Big changes to UAE Penal Code soon

COMMUNITY SERVICE SUCH AS CLEANING STREETS, SCHOOLS OR OTHER VOLUNTARY WORK WILL REPLACE JAIL TERMS FOR MINOR OFFENCES

Between 20-240 hours of community service such as cleaning streets, schools or other voluntary work will replace jail terms for minor offences |

Changes have been introduced to the UAE Penal Code to replace jail terms for minor offences with community service, according to a new law.

Community payback such as cleaning the streets, schools or other voluntary work will be determined in a decision by the Minister of Justice, in agreement with the ministers of Interior and Emiratisation and Human Resources, according to the new law issued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month.

Community service of up to three months will replace punishment for minor offences that would have otherwise been punishable by not more than six months or a fine, states the new law which will take effect from next month.

Public prosecutors will oversee implementation of the community service and receive reports on the offenders’ performance.

The court, on recommendation from prosecutors, may order a jail term similar to the community service period if the offenders fail to discharge their duties during the community payback period.

In 2009, the Cabinet approved the federal law of alternative punishments which lists 20 offences that call forcommunity service ranging between 20 to 240 hours.

By applying the new code, the UAE will be the first among Arab countries to adopt these types of laws.

Legal experts said the move towards restorative justice or alternative sentencing means that some offenders avoid imprisonment with its many unwanted consequences.

‘Beneficial to society’

They deem it beneficial for society, as it may prevent them from getting into the so-called revolving door syndrome, the inability of a person to get back to normal life after leaving prison, becoming a career criminal.

Furthermore, experts say, there are hopes that this could alleviate prison overcrowding and reduce the cost of punishment.

The community service may include unpaid work or community payback, house arrest, curfew, mandatory treatments and programmes (drug or alcohol treatment, psychological help and regular reporting to an official).

20offences entail community service of 20-240 hours, according to a 2009 law of alternative punishments.