Inmates Offered Training, Study and Support

TDT | Manama

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Psychological support, addiction recovery, craft workshops, support duties and study up to university level already form part of the programmes given to inmates, Interior Ministry legal affairs director Colonel Hussain Salman Matar told Parliament, as MPs passed two government-drafted bills replacing compulsory prison work with rehabilitation and training.

One law, attached to Decree No. 68 of 2025, rewrites Article 55 of the Penal Code so that people serving custodial sentences are assigned rehabilitation and training programmes in reform and rehabilitation centres instead of prison work.

The other, attached to Decree No. 69 of 2025, changes Article 18 of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution Law of 2014 so that inmates, apart from remand detainees and those unfit on health grounds, must take part in rehabilitation and training programmes instead of compulsory work. Matar said the ministry places strong emphasis on rehabilitation programmes for inmates.

Education

He said they include psychological support, religious guidance, recovery programmes for criminal behaviour and addiction, vocational and craft workshops, support duties inside the institution, and study programmes ranging from basic schooling in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to advanced study, including university education.

Quran memorisation programmes are also provided, he said.

He added that the alternative sentencing scheme runs through partnerships with public and private sector bodies, which provide programmes in cooperation with the General Directorate for the Implementation of Alternative Sentences.

Rewards

On payment, Matar said the law and regulations already provide for rewards linked to work carried out by inmates.

He gave the example of a carpenter making items during rehabilitation programmes and receiving payment for them, adding that such products can be sold at events and similar programmes.