Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions
- Law Type: Federal Decree-Law
- Law Number: [number] of 2024
- Issued Date: 01 Oct 2024
- Effective Date: 12 Apr 2025
- Official Gazette: No. 785
- Sector: Security and Safety
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 122
- Chapters/Parts: 9
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Decree-Law regulates the establishment, management, and operations of penal and correctional institutions in the United Arab Emirates. It defines the types of institutions, the rights and obligations of inmates, and the responsibilities of the authorities overseeing these facilities. The law aims to ensure the proper treatment and rehabilitation of inmates, while also maintaining security and order within the prison system. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Arts. 1-60) The law is significant for businesses and individuals in the UAE as it outlines the legal framework governing the detention and incarceration of persons. It specifies the conditions under which individuals can be held in penal and correctional institutions, the rights and protections afforded to inmates, and the penalties for non-compliance. Understanding this legislation is crucial for legal professionals, law enforcement agencies, and anyone who may interact with the UAE's criminal justice system. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Arts. 1-60)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The scope of this Federal Decree-Law is to regulate the establishment, types, and management of penal and correctional institutions in the United Arab Emirates. It applies to all federal penal and correctional institutions in the country. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 2) The purpose of the law is to ensure the proper treatment and rehabilitation of inmates, while maintaining security and order within the prison system. It aims to uphold the dignity of inmates, provide them with access to healthcare and social services, and facilitate their reintegration into society. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Arts. 8, 29-32)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: Ministry of Interior
- Minister: Minister of Interior
- Public Prosecution: The Federal Public Prosecution
- Penal and Correctional Institutions: The Ministry's penal and correctional institutions responsible for implementing court judgments and pre-trial detention orders
- Institution Officer: The officer who heads the administrative formation of the penal and correctional institution
- Inmate: The person placed in penal and correctional institutions in implementation of judgments and orders issued by the judicial authority
- Community Empowerment: A transitional period aimed at facilitating the inmate's integration into society
- Database: Information and data on inmates required for the operation of penal and correctional institutions
(Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The main obligations and requirements under this law include: 1. Penal and correctional institutions must be established and their locations and departments designated by a resolution issued by the Minister of Interior. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 3) 2. Penal and correctional institutions must be classified into two types: institutions for men and institutions for women. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 4) 3. Specific controls must be observed when building penal and correctional institutions, such as determining their capacity, type, and specialization, and providing facilities for the rehabilitation of inmates. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 5) 4. Penal and correctional institutions must be managed by an Institution Officer, who is responsible for guarding the inmates and implementing the relevant laws, regulations, and systems. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 6) 5. Penal and correctional institutions must maintain a database with various types of inmate data and information. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 7)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The legislation does not specify any licensing, registration, or approval requirements for penal and correctional institutions. The law focuses on the establishment, management, and operations of these institutions, rather than any licensing or approval processes.
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law grants the following rights and protections to inmates in penal and correctional institutions: 1. The right to have their dignity respected and not be subjected to torture, cruel treatment, or degrading punishment. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 8(1)) 2. The right to access any judgment or paper announced to them and to submit petitions, lawsuits, reports, requests, or memoranda. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 8(2)) 3. The right to be informed of the duties, prohibitions, and penalties related to them in a language they understand. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 8(3)) 4. The right to submit written complaints to the Institution Officer, which must be immediately notified to the Public Prosecution. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 9) 5. The right to meet with a member of the Public Prosecution and submit complaints to them. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 10(3))
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities and bodies responsible for the enforcement and oversight of this law include: 1. The Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for establishing and managing penal and correctional institutions. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Arts. 3, 6) 2. The Public Prosecution, which has the authority to supervise penal and correctional institutions and ensure the implementation of laws, regulations, and systems. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 10) 3. The Ministry's inspection committees or work teams, which are responsible for inspecting penal and correctional institutions and verifying the implementation of all laws, regulations, and systems. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 11) 4. The Inmate Correctional Policies Committee, which is established under the law to oversee the implementation of inmate correctional policies. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 53)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law does not specify any penalties for non-compliance. It focuses on the establishment, management, and operations of penal and correctional institutions, as well as the rights and obligations of inmates, rather than outlining penalties for violations.
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law does not specify any fees, charges, or financial provisions related to penal and correctional institutions or the detention of inmates. The legislation does not address any financial aspects of the prison system.
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The law does not provide any explicit exemptions or exceptions. It applies to all federal penal and correctional institutions in the United Arab Emirates. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 2)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The law does not specify any dispute resolution mechanisms. It focuses on the establishment, management, and operations of penal and correctional institutions, as well as the rights and obligations of inmates, without addressing any dispute resolution procedures.
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The law does not specify any key deadlines or time limits, apart from the requirement that no inmate may remain in a penal or correctional institution after the period specified in the detention order. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 13(2))
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law does not explicitly mention any other UAE legislation that it interacts with or amends. It is a standalone Federal Decree-Law regulating penal and correctional institutions in the UAE.
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions was issued on 01 Oct 2024 and came into effect on 12 Apr 2025. (Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions, 2024, Art. 60)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree-Law Regulating Penal and Correctional Institutions for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.