MADINAH — Hotel-type family accommodation has opened at Madinah's prison so that prisoners can spend a day with their families in warm and welcoming quarters. The accommodation consists of 10 hotel-like rooms, each with a main bedroom, a hall, a bathroom, a kitchen and a lounge for children to play in. At the opening of the accommodation unit, Director of Prisons in Madinah Maj. Gen. Sabah Al-Zamhari said all prisoners, whether Saudis or expatiates, would benefit from the project, which has been completed at a cost of more than SR49 million. "Every prisoner, who is serving a jail term or under detention pending trial, can use the facility after spending the first three months in the prison," Al-Zamhari said. A number of local newspapers on Tuesday quoted Al-Zamhari as saying that prisoners can stay with their families from morning to evening and will be provided with free food, drinks and laundry. "These projects, which have been established in a number of prisons in the Kingdom, will boost the prisoners' relations with their families, will straighten up their behavior and prepare them to merge in society after release," he said. Al-Zamhari said the time prisoners spend privately with their wives and children will have a positive impact on their morale and will increase self-confidence and make them more comfortable and at ease. The director said about 200 prisoners will benefit from the monthly arrangement. "If the prisoner has more than one wife, he can alternate them every month," he said. Al-Zamhari said the family accommodation is being run by a number of women who were trained in hotel management. The director said under the program, prisoners would be allowed to go out to spend 24 hours with their families every month.
