Saudi Prison Institutes

Saudi Prison Institutes are vocational and industrial institutes dedicated to the rehabilitation of inmates in prisons and correctional facilities under the General Directorate of Prisons in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The vocational training program in prison institutes began in 2004, contributing to developing the inmates' skills and providing them with appropriate vocational training to enter the labor market after serving their sentences.

According to the first quarterly report of 2023 by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the number of inmates enrolled in the industrial vocational institutes in prisons reached 3,241, distributed across thirty-three training facilities for prison institutes.

Saudi prison institutes offer specialized training programs for inmates across various provinces of the Kingdom. The programs' specializations include: electrical work, plumbing, computer skills, sewing, barbering, carpentry, painting and decoration, electronics, automotive mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning, and welding.

Inmates enrolled in these training programs receive a monthly stipend of SAR800 during the training period. Upon completion, they are awarded a certificate accredited by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in line with labor market requirements.

The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation collaborates closely with prison administrations throughout the Kingdom to facilitate the organization of training programs, ensuring the provision of necessary equipment and a conducive training environment where inmates can acquire skills proficiently under the supervision of specialized trainers.

The training programs at the prison institutes are supported by several entities to provide assistance and backing for inmates. These entities include: the National Entrepreneurship Institute, the Centennial Fund, the National Committee for the Care of Prisoners, Industrial and Commercial Chambers, and businessmen. The program is distinguished by the fact that trainees receive an accredited vocational certificate from the vocational institute in the province rather than from the prison. Additionally, trainees have the opportunity to obtain a loan from the National Entrepreneurship Institute or the Centennial Fund. The program also aids graduates in securing suitable jobs in the private sector, allows for the continuation of training in secondary industrial institutes, and provides a financial stipend to each trainee. Moreover, outstanding graduates may work as assistant trainers during their sentence period and receive a lump-sum reward paid by the relevant entities.

Since their inception, the prison institutes have trained thousands of inmates in various specialties. According to the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, by the end of 2016, over 12,351 inmates were trained in technical and vocational fields through the professional training programs offered by the Corporation in partnership with the General Directorate of Prisons.

In 2017, 2,750 female inmates received training through several programs provided by the institutes inside prisons in partnership with the General Directorate of Prisons. Some of the vocational training programs conducted inside prisons include mobile and electronic device maintenance and repair, printing for men, office applications, networks, and programming for women.

The program for training female inmates in prisons started in 2009 to qualify them in various technical and vocational fields. The key fields include: computer skills, sewing, arts and crafts, beauty and cosmetics, and English language skills. Additionally, the program offers self-development training and small business startup courses.

In 2017, female inmates were trained in thirty-six programs in Riyadh, al-Ahsa, Dammam, Buraydah, Abha, Hail, Taif, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation announced a plan to expand these programs to include all prisons in the Kingdom and to activate production lines in Dhahban and al-Ha’ir correctional facilities. The corporation noted the eagerness of female inmates to join and complete these training programs.

Graduates of the training programs receive certificates of completion specifically for inmates, which they can use to secure suitable employment after their release. These certificates are considered equivalent to those awarded to graduates of technical and vocational programs.

Inmates trained in prison institutes can join any technical profession available in vocational and industrial training workshops that match their interests and mental and physical abilities. This initiative supports the Kingdom's reform programs for inmates, assisting them from their entry into prison until their release. Upon completing their sentences, they have the opportunity to secure jobs based on the scientific and professional expertise gained within the correctional facilities.

In 2014, the National Program for Crafts and Handicrafts, affiliated with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (previously), signed a cooperation agreement with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and the General Directorate of Prisons. This agreement aimed to train and qualify inmates, providing them with a craft or profession they can practice upon release.

The program has integrated craft and handicraft pathways into the training programs conducted within reformatories and prisons, enhancing inmates' skills to train their peers and assisting in marketing the products made by both male and female inmate artisans.

The memorandum seeks to provide job opportunities in the private sector for trained inmates after their sentences end and to provide financial rewards as in other training programs within prisons and reformatories. Additionally, it aims to facilitate funding for trained inmates after their sentences and to encourage their investment in crafts. The program also supports and encourages charitable organizations and volunteer committees to care for inmates in the field of crafts and handicrafts.