Minor crimes that have less than a 6 month jail sentences will now result in community service in Abu Dhabi, Khaleej Times has reported.
The perpetrators will be cleaning up mosques, streets and public parks or help at special needs centers and hospitals, as assigned by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
Offenders will be exempt from jail time unless they do not comply with the specified terms of their community service.
Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, issued the new law as an attempt to set up a new public prosecution system, which implements community service acts to be ordered by the Abu Dhabi misdemeanor court.
This enforces >the Federal law passed in October of 2016, which includes 3 months of community service as punishment for minor offenses, among other changes.
A list of suggested community service work includes the memorization of the Qur'an, being sent to juvenile centers, helping at special needs centers, helping the transportation of patients and cleaning the beaches, streets, public areas and natural reserves.
They also are to perform services that help the public in general, such as participate in food drives and provide services in health centers.
The enforcement of community services seems to be the sentence of choice in Dubai, as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, issued a community service sentence to a stunt driver and his friends who put others at risk with a dangerous drift just two weeks ago.
The 3 men are to clean the streets for 4 hours daily over a 30 day span.