Arab News reporter Saeed Al-Abyad talking to one of the juvenile delinquents at the Jeddah Juvenile Center. (AN photo by Khidr Al-Zahrani

JEDDAH, 11 October 2006 — The Jeddah Juvenile Center is bustling with 220 youngsters, mainly under the age of 16. They are behind bars for various crimes including drugs, theft and even murder. Jail sentences vary from anything between six months and three years depending on the crime they have committed.

“The Juvenile Center is providing a yeomen’s service to society in helping troubled kids become better citizens of the Kingdom. We only accept offenders between the ages of seven and 18 based on government regulations.

The youngsters who are here include those sent to the center by courts and those under investigation,” said Shaker Al-Azwali, the manager of the center.

Arab News visited the Jeddah Juvenile Center to speak to officials and youngsters about life at the center. Sixteen-year-old Mahmood has been at the center for 10 months after being convicted of murdering a fellow classmate.

“There was a grudge between me and the boy I killed. We ended up fighting and I killed him. I took a hard object and hit him on the head with it. He died instantly,” said Mahmood, pausing to cry for a moment.

“On coming here my personality has completely changed. I do not fight or argue anymore. I am a completely different person and they treat me well here. I dream of finishing my education, being released and forgiven for what I did,” he said. Mahmood is doing well at school and is described by officials at the center to be one of the most reformed youngsters there.

According to officials, 60 percent of inmates have been convicted of theft-related crimes, 20 percent of assault and another 20 percent of drugs and murder charges. There are 40 youngsters below the age of 16 at the center facing murder charges.

Saudis constitute 20 percent of the total number of juveniles held at the center, with Africans making 40 percent. Asians constitute 23 percent of the inmates while the remaining 17 percent are from different Arab countries.

Nasir is a 17-year-old high school student who has been at the center for two months and doing time for fornication.

“I feel ashamed talking about my crime. There is nothing that can justify what I did. Coming here has changed me totally. I hang my head in shame when I think of what I did. I wish I could turn the clock back. I wish I could have a fresh start,” he said.

“We try providing them with psychological help the moment they arrive. It is important that they become better spiritually and religiously. There are psychiatrists and trained specialists who are able to deal with the youngsters individually,” said Al-Azwali.

He believes the main aim is to ensure the youngsters are able to integrate into society and become model citizens once they serve out their time.

“The police bring them to us after they are arrested. Other government departments like the governorate office, the traffic department and the anti-drugs department also bring youngsters to us. The social services receive individual cases and evaluate the child involved to ensure they are suitable for admission to the center,” said Al-Azwali. “Our mission is to rehabilitate them. Most of the teenagers are suffering from economic, psychological and family problems. Their daily program starts with school.

Twenty percent of juveniles here are elementary school students, 40 percent middle school students and the remainder attend high school. The school they study in at the center is under the supervision of the Education Ministry. They have every right to continue their education, something we believe they should not be deprived of. We have cultural activities and religious and sport activities for them to involve themselves in during their free time,” said Al-Azwali.

The center in Jeddah was established in 1399 H. It was the third such center in the Kingdom and was established after a sharp increase in juvenile crimes. Sociologists attribute the sharp rise in crimes to the economic boom experienced in many Gulf countries with parents working and therefore being far too busy to pay attention to their children.

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The center ensures that the education of youngsters is not interrupted. In cases where youngsters have committed less-serious crimes, they “are allowed to remain at home until they complete their school exams. We only bring them in once their exams are over,” Al-Azwali said.

Once admitted at the center, the new inmates are isolated from other juveniles to ensure they are not negatively affected. “The investigation officer then visits them accompanied by a trained psychiatrist in a civil uniform to ensure they are provided with a pleasing environment and to ensure they are reformed,” said Al-Azwali.

“Youngsters who have not yet been convicted but are under investigation are visited by judges and other relevant officials. Their cases are reviewed until they appear in court. We ensure all the evidence against them is reviewed fully in front of them without any pressure. Even the judge is considerate and tries to ease the punishment. Sometimes there are 50 percent reductions in the punishment,” said Al-Azwali.

Rasheed is a 15-year-old thief who has been at the center for three months for breaking into a house. “My friend was the one who tricked me into doing this. He convinced me that we would become rich quickly and that we would never get caught. It worked for a while. All the stuff we got from our robberies we sold in the market. Soon we were caught while committing a robbery. The funny thing is that my friend claimed that I was the one who encouraged him to commit these crimes,” he said.

Al-Azwali said that the center provides full medical care to juveniles. He said there is a plan to expand the center to accommodate at least 500 juveniles. The expansion plan includes more playgrounds and a new mosque.

“Our role does not end after the juvenile is released. We stay in touch with him through his family. We will help him to survive after he is released and eliminate all obstacles on his way. We coordinate with other departments to find jobs for the released inmate,” he said.

— Names of some juveniles in this report have been changed to protect their identity.