Abu Dhabi replaces short jail terms with community service

Picture for illustrative purposes

Convicts of minor crimes will be ordered to clean mosques, streets and public parks or help at special needs centres and hospitals as community service, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has announced.
The community service will replace detention in minor crimes that otherwise do not exceed more than six months imprisonment.
The announcement followed a resolution to set up a new public prosecution as issued by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). The new public prosecution is directly subordinate to the attorney general and specialises in following up implementation of community service measures to be issued by Abu Dhabi misdemeanour courts.
It was part of an effort to enforce a 2016 federal law, which amended some provisions of the Federal Penal Code.
"The community service for convicts will be in humanitarian, educational, environmental and in government business fields. The purpose is to reform these people psychologically and morally, and also to change their behaviour in society," said Yousef Saeed Al Abri, Under-Secretary of the Judicial Department.
Among the suggested community service work includes; memorisation of the holy Quran, sending convicts to juvenile centres, spending time at special needs centres, helping in transportation of patients and cleaning roads, streets, beaches, public squares and natural reserves. Other services also include cleaning and maintenance of mosques, sports facilities, sale of tickets, maintenance of public libraries and parks, loading and off-loading containers at ports and assisting people working in the civil defense.
Al Abri added that that the convicts will also be made to provide services in government business and administrative places, health centers, do clerical work, serve as drivers in the field of food control section and any other work that benefits the public.
He explained that if the person fails to implement the community service, court might make them serve the jail penalty for a similar period given to them in community service or complete the remaining un-served period in prison.
Abu Dhabi Attorney-General Ali Mohammed Al Balushi said the new legal body formed by Sheikh Mansour fell within the prosecution's mandate to represent the community as well as to preserve its well-being and interests through enforcement of the rule of law.
He said the resolution gave the new public prosecution authority to postpone the implementation of the community service for a person in case it deems inappropriate at that time.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com