(MENAFN - Arab News) Juvenile correctional facility Dar Al-Mulahada in Jeddah has incarcerated 11 underage murder convicts. Two hundred other prisoners between 12 and 18 years old were convicted of other moral crimes. Sixty percent of the inmates are Saudi, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported.
The main crimes that were referred to the court involved theft and stealing, at 40 percent, then moral cases at 20 percent, following that drugs at 10 percent and various other crimes at 30 percent.
Relevant bodies in the Kingdom have assumed the responsibility of rehabilitating the minors to be productive citizens in society. Qualified specialists work on the psychological side of those convicted of murder. "Any minor we receive here is isolated from the rest immediately upon his arrival to alleviate the stress and anxiety he feels during investigation," said Yahya Al-Harthy, a social worker at Dar Al-Mulahada.
Al-Harthy explained that the role of the house is correctional, as much of the young convicts suffer from severe economic, psychological and family issues.
He said that the inmate's daily program begins after Fajr prayers, before they go to classes. Psychological care is available from the moment the minor arrives at the facility. A team of social and psychological specialists help an inmate integrate in his community, according to his personal characteristics and social conditions, as well as associating him with his family before he returns to them.
The facility organizes several activities: cultural, religious awareness, sports and recreational events, along with attending classes at Omar bin Rabiah School.
Legal procedures leading to the admittance of any minor, or underage convict, go through a series of steps.
These begin with the police report, then the governorate procedures, the investigation team, the General Prosecutor and finally the courts. The underage convict stays in the facility from two to 12 months, according to his crime, during which he must continue to attend school.
The most important reasons why minors commit crimes, according to scientific and psychological studies, are family issues, poverty, and a strict and violent upbringing.
A team consisting of more than 30 people works at Dar Al-Mulahada in the field of social service, education, sports and cultural and recreational activities.
