Dubai: Inmates in Dubai Central Jail will be offered a novel way to shorten their jail time, officials told Gulf News.
Under a new incentive plan to be implemented next year, inmates who read books will be rewarded with a reduced jail time in some minor cases, including financial crimes.
Captain Mohammad Abdullah Al Obaidli, director of the Inmates Education and Training Department of Dubai Central Jail, told Gulf News, that the new initiative is still under study by the Interior Ministry.
- Captain Mohammad Abdullah Al Obaidli, Director, Inmates Education and Training Department
“Reading books will help reduce the jail sentence for inmates in certain crimes. It is a new gesture and we hope to start implementing it next year,” Captain Al Obaidli said.
The proposed programme will be in addition to the existing programme under which inmates are released early if they memorise the Quran.
The inmates can get their jail sentence reduced by up to 20 years for memorising the entire Quran.
However, just reading a book by an inmate will not automatically make them eligible for a reduced sentence. A committee of officers will discuss the book with the inmate to ensure that they actually read it. “We are holding discussions with the Interior Ministry about the programme. It is to encourage inmates to read and develop their personality by reading books,” he added.
With more than 5,000 books now in the prison library, inmates can choose from literature, philosophy, science or classics.
“The library is important here as it connects the inmate with outside world so we will develop the library and make it an electronic library. We will have around 20 smart tablets which will be given to inmates to read books electronically. Those tablets will be only for reading,” Captain Al Obaidli said.
He said the jail will have nearly 9,000 electronic books in different languages.
