Capt. Abdullah Al-Harbi, assistant spokesman of the Prisons Department, said judicial and security authorities are discussing alternative punishments after a committee comprising representatives from the Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry, Court of Grievances, Human Rights Commission, Public Security and the Prisons Department was formed to study and enforce them.

Al-Harbi said the move was aimed at reducing the suffering of prisoners and their families and cutting down the number of people in Saudi jails. “We have found that the introduction of alternative punishments is the best option,” he added.

He said the judge would have the right to propose a punishment other than imprisonment, considering the charges leveled against the culprit. Alternative punishments can be fines, social services or any other punishments which the judge deems suitable.

Judicial sources told Arab News that there are a number of alternative punishments that could be imposed and the authorities are seeking to expand these punishments to make them part of the legal system.

He said among the new punishments under study include electronic supervision of the convict’s house as it would allow the man to spend his jail term inside his house without going out.

“Such systems are essential to prevent dismemberment of the family as a result of the imprisonment of the head of the family and avoid social and mental problems,” he said.

Al-Harbi said the committee would classify the prisoners or convicts to whom the electronic monitoring system could apply. “This system will mainly cover women as they have to be with their children at home to protect them.”

The system envisages authorities putting a device on the convicts’ wrists to control their movement electronically. This device will also determine how far the individual can move within his house.