Article 1 of Juveniles Law

Kh For the purposes of this Law, the following words and terms shall have the meaning stated against Kh each of them: 1 - Juvenile: Every person who has not exceeded eighteen years of age. 2 - Delinquent juvenile: Everyone who has completed his seventh year of age and has not exceeded eighteen and has committed an act punishable by law. 3 - Juvenile at risk of delinquency: Every juvenile in any of the following situations: a- If he associates with delinquents, suspects or persons notorious for bad conduct, or joins terrorist or extremist groups. b- If he is of bad conduct or defies the authority of his parents, caregiver or testamentary guardian, or the authority of his mother in the event of his guardian's death, absence or incapacity. c- If he habitually runs away from home, school, or educational or training institutes. d- If he is found begging. Acts of begging include offering trivial goods or services Kh or soliciting benevolence and charity by any means that does not constitute a serious source Y of livelihood. e- If he is found without a provider. f- If he suffers from a physical, mental or psychological illness or intellectual impairment, and this is 1( Items 1-2-3 were amended pursuant to Law No. 1 of 2017 in a manner affecting his capacity to understand or choose, such that there is fear for his safety or the safety of others. g- Imitating the opposite sex and adopting extremist ideas and beliefs, such as Satan worshippers and religious extremism. 4 - Juvenile Court: The court established in accordance with this Law, having jurisdiction to hear juvenile cases. 5- Juvenile Prosecution: A specialized prosecution office entrusted with investigation, disposition and prosecution in felony and misdemeanour cases committed by juveniles and the other competences specified in this Law. 6 - Juvenile Protection Police: A specialized police force that prevents and combats juvenile crimes, conducts inquiries into these crimes, gathers evidence concerning them, detects them, executes judgments and decisions concerning juveniles and guards social welfare institutions. 7- Social welfare institutions for juveniles: Every institution entrusted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour with receiving convicted juveniles and other juveniles required to be placed in institutions, classifying them and allocating them to suitable placement institutions in terms of sex, age, nature of delinquency and intellectual level, whether placement is by an order of the court or of other competent authorities in accordance with this Law. They include, in particular, the following: 1- Reception Centre: The place that receives juveniles at risk of delinquency for temporary protective custody to study their circumstances and shelter them until a suitable environment is available for their release or transfer to welfare or placement institutions. 2- Observation Home: The place in which juveniles under fifteen years of age are detained, where the Public Prosecution or Juvenile Court considers that they should be placed temporarily for protective custody and observation pending determination of their case. 3- Penal Institutions: The place in which custodial penalties imposed on juveniles are executed. A decision regulating them shall be issued by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour in agreement with the Minister of Interior. 4- Hospitality Home: The place in which shelter is provided to juveniles whom the Prosecution orders, the Court adjudges or the Juvenile Welfare Committee decides to deliver to it as a trusted provider, or who apply to it of their own initiative or through their families because of their pressing need for this care, and social inquiry establishes that they must be admitted until suitable circumstances are available for their return to society. The Home may accept placement cases of those who have completed the period of the measure imposed but have not received social treatment, rehabilitation and preparation for integration into outside society, in light of a comprehensive social inquiry prepared by specialists in accordance with this Law. 5- Placement Home: The place in which juveniles sentenced to placement therein are housed. It undertakes their social rehabilitation and preparation for integration into a sound environment, then follows them after release through aftercare programmes to ensure their adjustment to the new environment. In the home designated for females, its workers and supervisors shall be women, and appropriate requirements and care shall be provided for them. 6- Social Supervision and Aftercare Offices: Governmental or private offices entrusted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour with studying the cases of delinquent juveniles and juveniles at risk of delinquency and submitting social reports on them to the competent authorities, or implementing the requirements of judicial probation, conditional release or final release. They cover juveniles referred by the Court, Public Prosecution, police or observation homes. The office shall conduct social inquiries concerning juveniles before they are brought to trial, submit proposals ensuring their treatment after the expiry of the periods of measures or penalties stipulated in this Law, and cooperate with labour offices and employment sectors in the community to open employment opportunities for juveniles. Social and Psychological Service Office: An office established at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour to prepare awareness and social and psychological service courses for the guardians of delinquent juveniles or juveniles at risk of delinquency whom the Juvenile Court, either of its own motion or upon a request from the Juvenile Welfare Committee, orders to attend regularly. The competent bodies at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour or the relevant governmental or private bodies shall supervise implementation of these courses. The Minister of Social Affairs and Labour shall determine the office's competences and its technical and administrative affiliation. Probation Officer: A specialist or social researcher attached to the Social Supervision and Aftercare Office to fulfil the requirements of judicial probation and social inquiry, submit reports and studies concerning juveniles to the competent authorities, fulfil the requirements of conditional release and implement measures entrusted to him by the Juvenile Court in accordance with this Law. 7- Juvenile Welfare Committee: A permanent committee supervising the welfare of juveniles and the protection of their interests. Its composition shall take into account representation of the judicial, legal, religious, psychological, social and security elements. A decision forming it shall be issued by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour. 8- Caregiver: The father, grandfather, mother, testamentary guardian, and every person to whom the juvenile has been delivered by a judgment or decision Kh of the competent authority.