Ibrahim Alawi
JEDDAH — A new prison facility with the capacity for 7,200 inmates was opened in Dhahban on Monday.
Jeddah Prisons Director Col. Mani Al-Otaibi said the Prisons Department is renovating its facilities in a project budgeted with SR400 million.
“The department has built a new improved prison facility and rehabilitation center. We have transported 2,500 inmates so far from Braiman Prison to the new facility in Dhahban. We still have 500 more. The inmates are being put into their new cells in different wings of the new building depending on their crimes,” said Al-Otaibi.
He added the department is emptying out the old buildings to renovate them with new facilities. “The inmates go through a rehabilitation program after they serve their time in prison. The rehabilitation programs we have vary depending on the health condition of the inmates, their crimes, their age and the time they had to serve in prison,” said Al-Otaibi.
He also said the programs are designed by psychologists and sociologists with the aim to reinstitute the inmates back into the society.
“The inmates go through therapy to ensure their mental and psychological health before they are back in society. We also offer medical attention to ensure that the inmates are physically healthy as well,” said Al-Otaibi.
He added the inmates will have a variety of educational programs to enable them progressing with society.
“The new facilities are equipped with state of the art technologies. There are surveillance cameras installed on the inside and outside of building. All of the documentations are recorded online and authorized personnel have full access to the surveillance footage and other services online,” said Al-Otaibi.
He also said the new prison is the most advanced and development prison facility in the Kingdom.
