Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Some courts in the Kingdom have resorted to alternative punishment for juvenile convicts who are under the care of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Quoting informed sources, Makkah daily said on Monday that alternative punishments proposed by courts include memorizing chapters from the Qur’an, a number of the Prophet’s sayings, washing the dead and participating in grave digging.
There are 1,098 children — 865 boys and 233 girls — currently locked up in the ministry’s social homes and reformatories.
Youssef Al-Sayali, director of combating of begging, who is in charge of the convicted juveniles, said the ministry is making efforts to tie up the convicts with their families to correct their behavior.
He said the juvenile crimes are not registered in the criminal records so as not to impair their lives in future.
“Instead, we are preparing them to adapt socially and providing them with social programs to assess their inclinations and conduct methods so as to make correct remedies for them,” he said.
Sayali said the families are allowed to visit the juveniles who are, in turn, allowed to communicate with them.
He said the ministry is carrying out a number of educational and social programs to enable young criminals continue their education and obtain general knowledge that will help them know their environment and society.
He also said the ministry has vocational training programs to provide the young men and women with technical skills.
Sayali said the ministry has special sports and entertainment programs to keep them fit and have good times wherever they are.
“We have religious and medical care programs through religious lessons and lectures. We are also providing them with preventive and curative medication,” he added.
