The Ministry of Social Affairs has revealed that it is studying a proposal to reduce the sentences of skilled and talented inmates of prisons and juvenile correctional facilities, so that they can become productive members of society.

The ministry said that the measure, if approved, would be signed with the prisons authority. Extra training would be provided under the supervision of the ministry, according to a report in a local publication on Friday.

Mohammad Rajab Al-Zahrani, assistant director general of the ministry in the Eastern Province, said the plan would ensure that young men are able to serve their communities. The program would be held under the patronage of Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif.

He said the plan would include ministry officials writing monthly reports on the conduct of prisoners taking part in the initiative, which would be filed with judges. Once released, they would also be connected with their families, he said.

Al-Zahrani said that apart from their skills, the ministry would also consider other aspects of their characters, including their commitment to master their chosen profession and memorize the Qur’an. This would apply to long-term prisoners. There would be specific training provided for juveniles at correctional facilities between the ages of 12 and 18.

Meanwhile, there has already been an initiative launched to educate and train the sons of prisoners, said Naif Al-Hajiri, general supervisor of the ministry’s skills program. The ministry has set up a training institute with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, which has provided 70 jobs for young people over the past two months.

He commended various government agencies for their efforts last summer to provide support for young people including orphans and those with disabilities. Three government and private bodies conducted training for 1,800 men and women over a 30-day period.

He said the ministry wants to ensure that young Saudis have the skills to match the needs of the country’s labor market, so that the Kingdom can compete with highly industrialized nations around the globe.

The ministry’s social and development committee offers several training courses for young people including professional photography, using wheel chairs, electronic marketing, event management and skills for the beauty industry.

Mohammad Al-Khamis, an organizer with the program in Dammam, said that they have a budget of SR1.3 million to run the courses for young people in the region.

Meanwhile, the ministry has again reiterated that it is forbidden for employees of charities to take pictures of their work with needy families in the country. Khalid Al-Thubaiti, spokesman for the ministry, said the government wants to protect the dignity of beneficiaries.

He said there was no need to take photographs to confirm that aid has been delivered. The ministry has its own mechanism in place to determine whether the work has been done, he said.