Sharjah: A new central jail being built at a cost of Dh400 million in Sharjah’s Al Ramtha area will be able to house 6,000 inmates when it is complete.
The new Sharjah Punitive and Rehabilitation Centre is coming up in the same place as the old jail, which was designed to house a maximum of 2,000 prisoners. The first phase of the project, work which started last November, is expected to be complete this year.
The new centre will comprise an administrative building, separate buildings for men, women and juveniles, and workshops.
Each building includes a canteen, study hall, visitors hall, library, general clinic, dental clinic and sports hall. The Department of Infection Prevention will have a branch in the facility.
Colonel Arif Al Sharif, head of Sharjah Punitive Establishments Department, told Gulf News that “we have set up a three-year plan for a well-equipped central jail. We are working hard to help inmates return to a normal clean life”.
Col Al Sharif added that His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, had ordered the police to expand the old punitive and rehabilitation centre and equip it with facilities that meet international standards.
Emirates Stone company, which is based in Sharjah Industrial area no 12, is constructing the new facility.
A source at the company told Gulf News that the jail will be built in two phases — replacement and renovation.
Col Al Sharif said the priority was to ensure a healthy environment and have rehabilitation programmes to prevent inmates from returning to a life of crime. He added that all rehabilitation programmes carried out at the central jail aimed to make inmates aware of the mistakes they committed.
The inmates are assigned a daily activity, depending on which rehabilitation programme they have been assigned to undertake. The rehabilitation can either be occupational or give inmates the opportunity to further their education. They can enrol in either computer classes or religious instruction courses.
The prisoners also have breaks where they can spend some time on the exercise ground, borrow books from the library, participate in sports or other activities.
Col Al Sharif explained that inmates’ programmes are funded in part through a partnership between Sharjah Police and Sharjah Charity Association.
The assistance programme named Ayadi (hands) has helped inmates and their families over the past five years.
Every year, Dh2 million to Dh2.5 million is spent by Sharjah authorities on inmates and their families
Col Al Sharif explained that the administration is setting plans to allow conjugal visits for married inmates and the project will be implemented soon with the inauguration of the new centre.
“We are introducing it because it is important for us in our culture to preserve family bonds and values. When an inmate is allowed home to spend a few hours privately with his wife and children – imagine how that will help strengthen his ties with his family,” Col Al Sharif said.
