The Interior Ministry has defined 20 types of crime that will be punishable by arrest and detention in accordance with a decision that will be implemented 30 days after its publication.
The decision unified major crimes that call for detention, such as manslaughter or premeditated murder, terrorism and crimes related to compromising security.
The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution has been given authority to release defendants conditionally for only nine types of offenses.
The bureau chief can release prisoners on recommendations of investigating officers and the head of the department.
Crimes also include tampering with the stock market system without prior consent and embezzling public funds or funds belonging to companies or establishments that manage and operate public facilities or offer direct public services.
Crimes also include embezzling funds of shareholding companies where the state is a partner or individual banks and establishments that practice banking activity unless the embezzled sum is returned.
The decision includes cases of financial fraud.
Crimes that qualify for detention also include abusing public or private property by inflicting damages that exceed SR5,000 unless damages are repaid, assault on parents, trespassing, stealing, using places for prostitution or making and selling alcohol.
The decision also calls for arresting any individual who has caused a traffic accident under the effect of alcohol, drugs or mental stimulants, in addition to residents caught drifting, driving in the opposite direction or running the red light.
Individuals who have been involved in incidents resulting in death, disability or destruction of property that cannot be rectified within 15 days will also be subject to the new law.
The decision also includes individuals who have been found guilty of assaulting public officials or their vehicles or equipment.
Crimes also include being in possession of a gun or taking photographs to defame people.
Cases that will allow for amnesty include trespassing, unarmed robbery, car theft, prostitution, alcohol production or consumption, assaulting public servants, using guns and crimes related to embezzlement.
There were more than 44,500 prisoners in 2010, 23 percent of whom were detainees awaiting verdict, according to recent statistics published by the Public Prison Directorate.
There were more than 5,800 detainees in Riyadh and 2,300 in Jeddah.
Statistics also show that there is an increase in the number of non-Saudi prisoners, who account for half of detainees across the Kingdom.