Article 22 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
المادة 22 من نظام الأحداث
The article applies the Law of Criminal Procedure to a juvenile where the Juvenile Law has no provision, to the extent it does not conflict with his or her status as a juvenile.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما لم يرد فيه نص في النظام، تطبق أحكام نظام الإجراءات الجزائية على الحدث، وذلك بالقدر الذي لا يتعارض مع وضعه بوصفه حدثاً.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 22 explained in plain English
The Juvenile Law is a short law and does not cover every detail of criminal procedure. This article therefore sets out what applies where there is no provision:
- The fallback reference: the provisions of the Law of Criminal Procedure apply to the juvenile on every matter for which the Juvenile Law has no provision.
- The limit: this applies to the extent that it does not conflict with his or her status as a juvenile.
This means two things. First, the provisions of the Juvenile Law take precedence where they exist, such as what Article 21 provides on executing judgments concerning the juvenile inside the facility in the presence of a court representative. Second, recourse to the Law of Criminal Procedure is not unlimited; it stops at whatever conflicts with the accused being a juvenile.
The article does not specify what counts as conflicting with the juvenile's status; this depends on applying each provision individually.
Under Article 1, a juvenile is a person who has turned seven but has not turned eighteen. A person who needs to know the procedure required on a matter the Juvenile Law does not address can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and juvenile cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 22 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
Which law applies to a juvenile where the Juvenile Law has no provision?
The provisions of the Law of Criminal Procedure apply, to the extent they do not conflict with his or her status as a juvenile.
Does the whole Law of Criminal Procedure apply to a juvenile?
No. It applies only where the Juvenile Law has no provision, and to the extent it does not conflict with his or her status as a juvenile.
More articles on Trial of a Juvenile
- Article 13
The article accepts a charge decision without a statement of claim in juvenile cases, without prejudice to the parties' right to object, and excepts cases that require three judges.
مع عدم الإخلال بحق أطراف الدعوى في الاعتراض، يكتفى في قضايا الأحداث بقرار اتهام دون حاجة إلى لائحة دعوى، ويستثنى من ذلك القضايا التي يستوجب النظر فيها ثلاثة قضا
- Article 14
The article provides for trying the juvenile in his or her presence and that of the guardian or a facility representative, with the right to a lawyer, and lets the court excuse them from attending at the request of an interested person.
تجرى محاكمة الحدث أمام المحكمة بحضوره وولي أمره أو من يقوم مقامه، فإن تعذر ذلك فمندوب من الدار، وذلك دون الإخلال بحق الحدث في الاستعانة بمحامٍ وفق الأحكام المقر
- Article 18
The article requires the Public Prosecution, where juveniles and non-juveniles take part in a crime, to prepare a separate file for each group, and to apply the Juvenile Law's procedures and provisions to the juvenile in all cases.
إذا اشترك في الجريمة أحداث وغير أحداث تنظم النيابة ملفاً خاصاً بغير الأحداث يحال إلى المحكمة المختصة بنظرها، وملفاً خاصاً بالأحداث يحال إلى المحكمة، ما لم تكن غ
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.