DUBAI // Community service will become a more common response to petty crimes across the country now that the penal code has been updated.
The code was amended last year, but each emirate is still drawing up plans to implement the amendments so, in the meantime, orders will come from the Ruler of each.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, ordered community service as punishment in two cases recently – the men who urged two dogs to kill a cat were told to clean Dubai Zoo for three months and, in February, men who had been driving recklessly at City Walk were ordered to clean Dubai's streets for four hours each day for a month.
Judge Omar Karmustaji, head of the Juvenile Court in Dubai, said that his options to deal with young offenders were restricted to reprimanding them, handing them to their parents for punishment or placing them under a judicial supervision order.
“Community service punishments were specified under the original 1976 law but were no longer used,” he said. “They included a spell in a rehabilitation centre, compulsory community work or vocational training and bans on visiting specific places or engaging in certain activities.”
Judge Karmustaji believes community service could greatly reduce youth crime.
“The offender would be able to see the real world and the outcome of leading a good life,” he said.
Lawyer Yousef Al Bahar said community service was designed to unearth the good in young offenders.
“They are not offenders by birth, it comes as a result of many circumstances,” he said.
“Instead of throwing them in jail, community service will utilise their potential and put them face to face with the results of their actions.”
One Dubai prosecutor welcomed the use of community service as a deterrent and said there were plans to introduce forms of community service where the offender will be confronted by the outcome of his or her offence.
“If one was involved in speeding that caused a fatal crash, there is a suggestion they are ordered to do a period of community service in an ambulance or hearse,” he said. “Seeing a life lost because of a crash caused by speeding will certainly get to them and contribute to a reform in behaviour.”
Once the law is ready, judges will have power to replace or add to misdemeanour punishments with community service, said Jamal Hussein Al Sumaiti, director general of Dubai Judicial Institute.
“However, they will still have the authority to impose part or all of the original punishment stated in the penal code alongside community service,” said Mr Al Sumaiti. It would be up to prosecutors to oversee the execution of the community service, he said.
Emirati social services specialist Faisal Mahmoud Al Ali said community service would allow offenders to give back to society and learn to empathise.
“When I was in the military, we were often tasked with some humiliating jobs but now I completely understand because I feel with those who come to me in dire situations,” he said.
Mr Al Ali added that, through community service, the offender and the public will engage together and this will contribute to creating change in their attitudes and behaviours.
salamir@thenational.ae
