Article 2 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 2 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
The Minister of Interior establishes by decisions separate prisons and detention centers for men and women according to the needs of the Kingdom's regions, and the Regulations set the rules for their administration, guarding and safety.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تنشأ بقرارات من وزير الداخلية سجون للرجال وأخرى للنساء ودور توقيف للرجال وأخرى للنساء على أن يراعى في إنشائها الاستجابة لحاجات وحدات التقسيم الإداري للمملكة وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد إدارة السجون ودور التوقيف وسجلاتها والقواعد الخاصة بحراستها، والشروط الصحية ووسائل السلامة فيها.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article sets who establishes prisons and detention centers, and how they are organized:
- Who establishes them: prisons and detention centers are established by decisions of the Minister of Interior.
- Separation of men and women: the article provides for establishing prisons for men and others for women, and detention centers for men and others for women.
- Geographic distribution: in establishing them, the needs of the Kingdom's administrative divisions are to be met, that is, these facilities are to be distributed in a way that meets the needs of the regions.
The article then refers to the Implementing Regulations to set several matters the Law did not detail, namely:
- The rules for administering prisons and detention centers and their records.
- The rules for guarding them.
- Their health conditions and safety measures.
This article is linked to Article 1, which provides that prison sentences are carried out in prisons and detainees are placed in detention centers, and to Article 3, which assigns supervision of carrying out sentences and detention orders to a General Directorate of Prisons affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
The article does not give details of the health conditions or guarding rules, which are left to the Implementing Regulations.
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 2 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Which body establishes prisons and detention centers?
They are established by decisions of the Minister of Interior.
Are there prisons specifically for women?
Yes, the article provides for establishing prisons for men and others for women, and detention centers for men and others for women.
Where are the health conditions and safety measures in prisons set out?
The article refers their determination to the Implementing Regulations, along with the rules on administration, records and guarding.
More articles on Prisons and Detention Houses and Their Oversight
- Article 1
The article provides that prison sentences are carried out in prisons, and anyone subject to a detention order from the competent authorities is placed in detention centers, under this Law and its Regulations, without prejudice to the rules on treating juveniles.
تنفذ عقوبات السجن في السجون، ويودع من يصدر بشأنه أمر توقيف من السلطات المختصة دور التوقيف وذلك وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية. ومع عدم الإخلال بالقواع
- Article 3
A General Directorate of Prisons affiliated with the Ministry of Interior supervises carrying out sentences and detention orders in the Kingdom's regions through its own bodies, as the Regulations determine.
يشرف على تنفيذ العقوبات وأوامر التوقيف مديرية عامة للسجون تتبع وزارة الداخلية وتمارس اختصاصاتها في المناطق المختلفة بالمملكة بواسطة أجهزة تابعة لها، وذلك طبقا ل
- Article 5
Prisons and detention facilities are subject to judicial, administrative, health and social inspection, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations.
تخضع السجون ودور التوقيف للتفتيش القضائي والإداري والصحي والاجتماعي وذلك وفقا لأحكام اللائحة التنفيذية .
- Article 6
The Minister of Interior establishes by decision a Supreme Council of Prisons to study the development of prisons and detention facilities and propose ways to combat delinquency and repeat offending, choosing its members from different specializations.
ينشئ وزير الداخلية بقرار يصدره مجلسا أعلى للسجون تكون مهمته إجراء الدراسات الخاصة بتطوير دور السجن والتوقيف على نحو يحقق الهدف منها، ويجعلها أكثر فعالية في تقوي
- Article 30
The Minister of Interior issues the Implementing Regulations of the Prisons and Detention Law.
يصدر وزير الداخلية اللوائح التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
- Article 31
The Prisons and Detention Law takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
ينفذ هذا النظام من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.