RIYADH, 4 February 2003 — Prisons will no longer come under the jurisdiction of the public security department, and a series of measures will be introduced to improve the condition of prisoners in the country, according to a directive issued by the Cabinet yesterday.
Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy announced that the Cabinet has established an independent department for prisons under the authority of Prince Mohammed ibn Naif, assistant interior minister for security affairs.
He said the decision was taken on the recommendation of Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation and chairman of the ministerial committee for administrative reforms.
Al-Farsy added that a prisons council, comprising experts from both the public and private sectors, will look after prisons’ affairs and follow up the condition of prisoners.
The Interior Ministry in coordination with the Finance and Planning Ministries will set out a timetable for improving the condition of prisons, the Cabinet said.
“Prisons should have modern buildings in tune with their goal of reforming and rehabilitating inmates,” the Cabinet said in a statement.
“The new department will be responsible for supervising prisons and their management and implementing orders of detention and imprisonment,” Al-Farsy said.
“It will be an independent body under the Interior Ministry,” the Cabinet said, stressing the need for the appointment of qualified personnel who will take proper care of prisons.
