UAE issues new law to protect rights of prisoners, reintegrate them into society

Among the provisions, inmates must be allowed to be temporarily released in specific cases and for emergency reasons

Published: Tue 26 Nov 2024, 7:13 PM

Updated: Tue 26 Nov 2024, 9:14 PM

By
Web Desk

The UAE issued on Tuesday a new Federal Decree-Law regarding the regulation of penal and corrective institutions in the country.

The decree aims at reinforcing the institutions' role in empowering prisoners to integrate into society while ensuring their rights.

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Regarding the construction of penal and correctional institutions, the decree-law stipulates that the construction of these buildings shall take into account their capacity, type and proximity to public service areas as far as possible, and the same applies on facilities for pregnant inmates or those accompanied by children, as well as inmates in need of special care.

The provisions also authorized the use of artificial intelligence to predict inmates' practices, their health and psychological status.

They also stipulate that inmates can do certain work in exchange for wages with taking into account their ages, state of health, the nature of such work.

The Penal and Correctional Institution is authorized to establish a fund to support and care for products manufactured by inmates and services they can provide and this fund is authorized to purchase or establish businesses to market these products and services.

According to the new decree-law, minors who are aged 18-21 and transferred from the juvenile institution to the penal institution can obtain privileges commensurate with the nature of their sentences in order to ensure their social and family empowerment.

The Decree-Law also sets strict penalties for anyone who tries to smuggle prohibited items into or out of a correctional facility.

This includes a minimum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of at least Dh50,000, or either of these penalties. The same penalty applies to those who give inmates prohibited substances while transferring them. If any of these actions are carried out by an employee or a guard of the institution, the penalty increases to at least one year in prison and a fine of at least Dh100,000, or one of these penalties.

Anyone who provides an inmate with weapons or tools to help them escape or commit a crime can face up to five years in prison. If the person responsible for this is an employee or guard of the institution, the penalty increases to up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, if an inmate damages or disrupts the property of the institution, they will face imprisonment, a fine, and be required to pay for the damages they caused.

Here are the key objectives of the new decree-law:

Defining the period of community empowerment to facilitate the reintegration of inmates into society, granting them certain privileges during this period.
Establishing principles of necessary respect for the dignity of inmates and ensuring their rights are upheld.
Inmates have the right to continue their education if they wish, and the institution must facilitate their attendance in classes, lectures, and allow them to take exams through available means.
Inmates must be allowed to be temporarily released in specific cases and for emergency reasons.
Corrective institutions must implement the principle of 'buying out' the sentence for crimes that are eligible for settlement under the penal settlement system, subject to specific conditions and regulations.
Institutions must establish a fund to support and promote products made by inmates.
They must create a 'Correctional Policies Committee' responsible for implementing best practices in managing and developing penal and correctional institutions.

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