Article 8 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
المادة 8 من نظام الأحداث
The article requires a juvenile to be transferred at once to the nearest facility if there is none where he or she lives, and sets who accompanies a male and a female juvenile during the transfer.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا لم تكن هناك دار في المحافظة أو المركز الذي يقيم فيه الحدث المراد إيداعه أو إيقافه, فيرحل فوراً إلى أقرب دار لمكان إقامته.
2- يرحّل الحدث الذكر بصحبة ولي أمره أو من يقوم مقامه، وإن تعذر ذلك فيرحل بصحبة مندوب من الوزارة إن أمكن أو بما يمنع الانفراد به، وإن كان الحدث أنثى فترحل بصحبة ولي أمرها أو من يقوم مقامه، وإن تعذر ذلك فترحل بصحبة محرمٍ لها أو سجانة أو أكثر إن أمكن أو بما يمنع الخلوة.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where there is no juvenile facility in the governorate or district where the juvenile to be placed or detained lives. In that case, the juvenile is transferred at once to the nearest facility to his or her place of residence. This is consistent with Article 7, which prevents holding a juvenile anywhere other than the facility.
The article then sets out, in a clear order, who accompanies the juvenile during the transfer:
- A male juvenile: is transferred with his guardian or whoever stands in his place. If that is not possible, he is transferred with a representative of the Ministry where possible, or in a way that prevents him from being alone with anyone.
- A female juvenile: is transferred with her guardian or whoever stands in his place. If that is not possible, she is transferred with a mahram (close male relative) of hers, or one or more female guards where possible, or in a way that prevents her from being alone with a man.
The aim of this order is to protect the juvenile during transport, so that he or she is not left alone with a single person, and the privacy of a female juvenile is respected through a mahram or female guard.
Under Article 1, the Ministry is the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, and the facility is a body affiliated with it. A parent facing the transfer of a son or daughter to a facility in another city who wants to know the family's rights can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and juvenile cases.
Practical example
A 16-year-old girl lives in a small governorate with no juvenile facility, and an order is issued to detain her. Under this article she is transferred at once to the nearest facility, accompanied by her father or whoever stands in his place. If that is not possible, she is accompanied by a mahram of hers or one or more female guards where possible, or in a way that prevents her from being alone with a man.
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 8 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
What happens if there is no juvenile facility in the juvenile's city?
He or she is transferred at once to the nearest facility to his or her place of residence.
Who accompanies a male juvenile during the transfer?
His guardian or whoever stands in his place. If that is not possible, a representative of the Ministry where possible, or in a way that prevents him from being alone with anyone.
Who accompanies a girl during her transfer to the facility?
Her guardian or whoever stands in his place. If that is not possible, a mahram of hers or one or more female guards where possible, or in a way that prevents her from being alone with a man.
More articles on Detaining a Juvenile in a Juvenile Home
- Article 7
The article prevents detaining a juvenile for investigation unless the Public Prosecution sees that the interest requires it, in which case he is detained only in the Home and by a reasoned order.
لا يجوز إيقاف الحدث لغرض التحقيق؛ ما لم ترَ النيابة أن المصلحة تقتضي إيقافه، وفي جميع الأحوال لا يوقف الحدث إلا في الدار، ويكون أمر الإيقاف مسبباً.
- Article 9
The article sets juvenile detention at five days, extendable to 15 days and then to 60 days from arrest, and after that only by a reasoned court order.
ينتهي توقيف الحدث بمضي خمسة أيام، إلاَّ إذا رأى المحقق تمديد مدة التوقيف، فيجب -قبل انقضائها- أن يقوم بعرض الأوراق على رئيس فرع النيابة، أو من ينيبه من رؤساء ال
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.