JEDDAH: The Legal Aid Initiative, in cooperation with the National Committee for the Welfare of Prisoners and their Families, plans to provide free legal services for poor prisoners.

Majed Qaroub, who heads the initiative announced in Jeddah on Tuesday, said the organization wants to attract 1,000 graduates over the next 10 years at a rate of 100 per annum. In return for offering 100 hours of legal aid yearly, the graduates will acquire free professional legal training equaling 200 hours per year.

The initiative is run jointly by the Human Resources Development Fund and the private sector. The Prince Majed Charity has offered its support as a way to promote volunteerism among young people.

Some businessmen have expressed support for the plan through the King Khaled Foundation, Al-Qussain University, King Khaled University in Abha and King Abdulaziz University.

Following the signing of the agreement, Sanabel Company, the King Khaled Charity Foundation and other participants were widely praised for their contributions, according to a report in a local publication recently.

Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Habdan, assistant general governor of the Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), said the family of every prisoner has the right to receive monthly support from the state.

He said that GOSI was aware of the difficulties faced by the families of prisoners, so the money is able to at least help maintain their standard of living, according to a report in a local publication.

A source quoted by the publication, said that families are entitled to SR2,000 a month, no matter how long the person spends in prison. Family members of a prisoner can visit any one of 22 GOSI offices to apply for payment. This application must be endorsed by a legal clerk and the Prisons Administration.