Article 10 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 10 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
The Implementing Regulations set the rules for classifying prisoners by type and seriousness of crime, repetition and length of sentence, and the bases that make their rehabilitation easier.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تضع اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد تقسيم المسجونين وفقا لنوع الجرائم المحكوم عليهم من أجلها وخطورتها وتكرار ارتكابها ووفقا لمدد العقوبة وللأسس التي تيسر تقويم المحكوم عليهم.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article deals with the classification of prisoners within prisons. It refers the setting of its rules to the Implementing Regulations, but it specifies the criteria on which this classification is based:
- The type of crimes for which they were sentenced.
- The seriousness of these crimes.
- The repetition of their commission.
- The length of the sentence.
- The bases that make the rehabilitation of convicts easier.
The purpose the text points to is making the rehabilitation of convicts easier, so that not all prisoners are held together without distinction; rather, the type of crime, its seriousness, the length of the sentence and the repetition of offenses are taken into account.
The article does not mention the classes themselves or how these criteria are applied; that is left to the Implementing Regulations. The text also speaks of "prisoners" and "convicts", that is, those against whom a judgment has been issued.
The article comes after Article (9), on the confiscation of what a prisoner or detainee hides or refuses to hand over, and before Article (11), which requires anyone whose stay in prison exceeds four years to go through a transition period before release to make it easier to integrate him into society.
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 10 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Are prisoners classified by the type of their crimes?
Yes. The article provides that the Implementing Regulations set the rules for classifying prisoners according to the type, seriousness and repetition of crimes and the length of the sentence.
What is the purpose of classifying prisoners?
The text points to taking into account the bases that make the rehabilitation of convicts easier.
More articles on Rights of Prisoners and Detainees
- Article 12
The Implementing Regulations set rules for visits, correspondence and the treatment of detainees, including food at their own expense and their own clothing, and the Minister of Interior may grant some of these privileges to a category of convicts.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد زيارة المسجونين والموقوفين ومراسلاتهم كما تضع قواعد معاملة الموقوفين وجواز حصولهم على طعام على نفقتهم الخاصة وارتدائهم زيهم الخاص ف
- Article 16
The employment of prisoners and detainees follows rules set by the Ministry of Interior jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
يكون تشغيل المسجونين والموقوفين وفق قواعد تضعها وزارة الداخلية بالاشتراك مع وزارة العمل والشئون الاجتماعية .
- Article 17
Prison and detention administrations must ensure a Muslim can perform his religious rites and provide the means, and each must have one or more religious counselors and one or more social and psychological specialists.
يجب على إدارات السجون ودور التوقيف أن تكفل محافظة المسلم في السجن أو دار التوقيف على إقامة شعائره الدينية الإسلامية وأن تهيئ له الوسائل اللازمة لأدائها. ويكون ل
- Article 18
The Ministry of Interior sets education curricula in prisons with the competent authorities, the Implementing Regulations set examination rules, a library is established, and prisoners may bring in books and newspapers at their own expense.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالاتفاق مع الجهات المختصة المسئولة عن التعليم والتوعية مناهج التعليم والتثقيف داخل السجون ودور التوقيف . وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد وإجرا
- Article 19
The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the competent authorities, sets social service programs inside prisons and detention facilities and for the families of prisoners and detainees.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة برامج للخدمة الاجتماعية داخل السجون ودور التوقيف ، ولأسر المسجونين والموقوفين.
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.