Article 3 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 3 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشرف على تنفيذ العقوبات وأوامر التوقيف مديرية عامة للسجون تتبع وزارة الداخلية وتمارس اختصاصاتها في المناطق المختلفة بالمملكة بواسطة أجهزة تابعة لها، وذلك طبقا للأوضاع التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية.
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 3 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body responsible for supervising the carrying out of sentences and detention orders:
- The supervising body: a General Directorate of Prisons.
- Its affiliation: it is affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
- The scope of its work: it exercises its powers in the various regions of the Kingdom through bodies affiliated with it.
- How it works: this is in accordance with the arrangements set by the Implementing Regulations.
In practice this means that carrying out prison sentences and detention orders is not left to each body separately, but is supervised by a single central body with branches and bodies in the regions. As for the details of organizing these bodies and how they carry out their work, the text does not state them but refers them to the Implementing Regulations.
This article complements Article 2, which makes the establishment of prisons and detention centers by decisions of the Minister of Interior, and Article 4, which gives the Minister of Interior the power to order that foreigners' imprisonment and detention be carried out in special places or sections, and gives the Head of State Security, in crimes affecting national security, the power to order imprisonment and detention to be carried out by a special department.
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 3 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Who supervises carrying out prison sentences and detention orders?
A General Directorate of Prisons affiliated with the Ministry of Interior supervises them.
Does the General Directorate of Prisons have branches in the regions?
The article provides that it exercises its powers in the various regions of the Kingdom through bodies affiliated with it, in accordance with what the Implementing Regulations set.
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 2
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.
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 وتح
- 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.