Juvenile Laws at Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's juvenile justice system has undergone significant reforms in recent years, aiming to align with international standards and enhance the protection of minors' rights.
⚖️ Legal Framework and Age of Criminal Responsibility
Definition of a Child: Under Saudi law, a child is defined as an individual under 18 years of age.
Age of Criminal Responsibility: While there isn't a specified minimum age of criminal responsibility, certain physical indicators are used to assess a juvenile's maturity:
Age above 15.
Presence of physical signs of puberty, such as wet dreams, appearance of pubic hair, or menstruation.
🏛️ Juvenile Courts and Legal Proceedings
Specialized Juvenile Courts:Saudi Arabia has established specialized juvenile courts to handle cases involving minors, ensuring that proceedings are tailored to the unique needs of young offenders
Legal Representation:Juveniles have the right to legal representation during legal proceedings
🛡️ Rights of Juvenile Offenders
Detention Procedures The Juveniles Law outlines specific procedures for detaining minors, including:
Detention periods not exceeding five days without judicial revie.
Extensions of detention permissible only with judicial authorization, with total detention not exceeding 60 days without trial.
Trial Procedures Trials involve the juvenile, their legal guardian, and may include a representative from the care hom. Juveniles have the right to legal representation, and the court may permit their absence under certain condition.
🏫 Rehabilitation and Alternative Measures
*Non-Custodial Measures: For juveniles under 15, the law emphasizes rehabilitative measures over punitive actions, includig:
Reprimands and warnings.
Placement under parental or guardian supervisin.
Prohibition from entering specific places or engaging in certain activities for up to three yeas.
Social supervision within their community for up to two years.
Obligation to perform specific duties or community service for up to three years.
Placement in a social or therapeutic institution for up to one year, provided the juvenile is at least 12 years old at the time of the offence.
*Custodial Measures: Juveniles aged 15 and above may face placement in a juvenile detention facility for up to half the maximum penalty an adult would receive for the same offene In cases where the death penalty would apply to adults, juveniles are instead sentenced to a detention period not exceeding 10 years.
⚠️ Recent Reforms and Developments
*Abolition of the Death Penalty for Minors: In April 2020, Saudi Arabia announced that individuals convicted of crimes committed while minors would no longer face the death penaly Instead, they would receive a prison sentence of up to 10 years in a juvenile detention faciliy.
*Elimination of Flogging: The kingdom has also abolished flogging as a form of punishment, replacing it with imprisonment, fines, or community service.
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These reforms reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to modernizing its legal system and improving the treatment of juvenile offenders, aligning more closely with international human rights standards.
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