Saudi Arabia Prison Images

Inside a typical prison in Saudi Arabia

Prisoners in Saudi Arabia have access to an education with classrooms and teachers. (Supplied)

Commonly in the middle east a prison is some stone structure. Expect cells. The ones I have seen have like beds often in two layers. Maybe 6 to 8 beds in a cell. The cell door is rarely locked but can be. Food is fairly basic. Expect maybe an egg, some bread, some butter. Dinner is some biryani like rice with chicken. Water is from clean taps. Toilets are holes in the ground and you need to wash your end with your left hand and available water. It takes some practice. Inmates frequently visit other cells. That said, it is not a hotel like in most of europe. The ones I have been in did not have TV and very little else to do than chat with others.

Prisoners with good behavior are rewarded with upgraded sleeping quarters.

Inside a prison sleeping cell.

Another look at accommodation inside a Saudi prison showing a decorated living area.

Prisoners are tasked with performing their own laundry.

Inside a dining hall in one of Saudi Arabia's prisons.

The courtyard where prisoners are allowed to exercise.

Image Source: https://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/photo-gallery/2016/12/24/Take-a-look-inside-a-typical-prison-in-Saudi-Arabia.html

Saudi Arabia is home to over three million Indian expatriates. A large number of Indian prisoners are currently serving sentences in different jails across the kingdom.

In addition to social and psychological care, health care is guaranteed for prisoners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Besides, the Saudi government and the charities take care of the prisoner's family and give them every help and support.

This continuous support helps rehabilitating prisoners and encourages them be good members of the society again.

Below are some of the healthcare programs offered to prisoners all over the kingdom:

Health care

Main prisons include integrated dispensaries that offer comprehensive medical services; they are as well responsible for the cleanliness of prisons and prisoners.

The offered health care includes:

1- Preventive health care:

• Making sure that new prisoners are not infected with contagious diseases.
• Monitoring prisoners' personal cleanliness.
• Vaccinating prisoners against contagious diseases.
• Examining prisons' staff.
• Examining prisoners to make sure they are free from infectious deceases.
• Assuring cleanliness of prisons facilities.
• Getting Municipalities health authorities' help in pest control and other areas of preventive care.

2- Treatment:

• Establishing health centers with specialized departments in the main prisons that are open around the clock.
• Establishing health centers in the branch prisons to provide first aids when needed.
• Small branch prisons refer patients to the general and specialized hospitals.
• If a prisoner's case is critical, his/her family is notified and allowed to visit him/her.
• The appropriate health care provided by prisons help prisoners keep fit and make them get used to healthy habits. Health care also help keep the prisoner's morale good. In addition to protecting prisons environment against infectious diseases, the provided health care help rehabilitate prisoners.

The social workers duties include the following:

• Examining the prisoner's case once he arrives at prison.
• If the prisoner supports a family, the social worker registers number of the family members, the family's financial resources, and address. This data goes to the social insurance authority to provide the prisoner with economic assistance.
• Keeping a file that contains all data about the arrested/prisoner including family conditions, relations and the clashes with others.
• Meeting the prisoner to know his/her needs.
• Watching the prisoner's ability to get along well with other prisoners.
• Studying the prisoner family's case and urging the social insurance authority and charities to help his/her family.
• Preparing seminars and lectures concerning taking care of prisoners.
• Completing studies and researches on the problems encountered by individual and groups of prisoners, and planning for solving the problems systematically.
• Training prisoners on practicing exercises and participating in social activities, this participation may minimize chances of making problems in the prison.
• Before releasing a prisoner, the social worker helps prepare him/her for living out of prison. The social worker also prepares the prisoner's family to receive him/her and handles problems that may face the released prisoner.
• The psychological specialist studies the prisoner's mental and psychological state and the factors that may affect him/her; then he suggests a comprehensive plan to relieve the prisoner's tension and help him/her get rid of the psychological pressure.
• The social worker and the psychological specialist work together on solving the prisoner's problems and helping him develop self-confidence and make the best use of rehabilitation programs.
• The social worker works with the psychiatrist on studying, diagnosing, and treating some cases that need care and follow-up.

Continued care:

Once the prisoner arrives at prison, the specialized people take care of him/her; they also take care of the prisoner's family members to protect them against being involved in criminal activities. The specialised people qualify the prisoner for earning living and leading a happy life after release.

The concerned staff members give the released prisoner all the required support needed to rejoin the society. The team keep taking care of the released prisoners; they guide and support them to refrain from getting involved in criminal activities again. The team provides financial support in cooperation with the Social Insurance, the charities and the other concerned parties.

The general administration of consequent care in the Ministry of Social Affairs take care of the released prisoners, give them training and help them get jobs that suit their potentials.

Taking care of narcotics and drugs addicts (in prison and after release)

Medical dispensaries in prisons provide medical and psychological care for the narcotics addicts prisoners. Every dispensary's team includes a Psychiatrist who takes care of the narcotics addicts prisoners and refer them to "Al-Amal" hospitals when needed.

Men of religion also preach the addicts about the harms of narcotics and drugs. Committee of the Convicted also studies the case of every one of the addicts prisoners and advise him/her to avoid taking narcotics/drugs. The committee works in cooperation with the concerned parties to watch the released prisoner and help him/her repent. Before releasing an addict prisoner, the committee gets a report that proves his/her blood is free from narcotics and drugs.

The social worker plays an important role in studying the case and finding the reasons of deviation.

In accordance with HRH the Minister of Interior's directives, the concerned parties help the released prisoners find jobs that suit their potentials.

If the released prisoner is still in need of medical care, she/he is referred to one of "Al-Amal" hospitals as a normal citizen, not a prisoner.