Article 6 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 6 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 تقويم المحكوم عليهم وذلك فضلا عن اقتراح وسائل مكافحة الجنوح والعود وكل ما يحقق الصالح العام في هذا المجال.
ويختار وزير الداخلية أعضاء المجلس من ذوي التخصصات المختلفة.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article establishes an advisory and study body, the Supreme Council of Prisons, and sets out its provisions:
- How it is established: the Minister of Interior establishes it by a decision he issues.
- Its first task: conducting studies on developing prisons and detention facilities so that they achieve their purpose and become more effective in rehabilitating convicts.
- Its second task: proposing ways of combating delinquency and repeat offending, that is, reducing deviance and the return to crime of those who have previously been punished.
- A general task: proposing whatever serves the public interest in this field.
- Its members: the Minister of Interior chooses them from people of different specializations.
The text shows that, under this Law, prison is viewed not only as a place for carrying out punishment but as a means of rehabilitating convicts. According to the text, the Council's work consists of studies and proposals, and the article does not state that it has the power to issue binding decisions, nor does it specify the number of its members or their particular specializations.
This article comes after Article (5), which subjects prisons and detention facilities to judicial, administrative, health and social inspection, and before Article (7), which prohibits placing any person in prison or detention except by a written order from the competent authority.
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 6 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
What is the Supreme Council of Prisons?
A council established by the Minister of Interior by decision, whose task is to conduct studies on developing prisons and detention facilities and to propose ways of combating delinquency and repeat offending.
Who chooses the members of the Supreme Council of Prisons?
The Minister of Interior chooses them from people of different specializations.
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 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 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.