Overview of Alternative Sentencing in Morocco
In a recent presentation held in Rabat, Morocco, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi delivered an encouraging report on the implementation of alternative sentencing laws. The report revealed that 926 daily fines were issued, representing a significant 43.6% of all judgments made. This shift is part of Morocco's broader strategy to enhance its penal system and embrace more rehabilitative forms of justice.
Details on Alternative Sentences
During a session in the Chamber of Representatives, Minister Ouahbi provided further insights into the types of alternative sentences being applied. He noted that out of the total fines, 794 sentences were directed towards community service, while 385 sentences involved restrictions on certain rights or mandated measures for control, care, or reintegration. However, electronic monitoring was only utilized in 18 cases, indicating a potential area for growth in the application of technology within the justice system.
Despite these advancements, Minister Ouahbi acknowledged the slow progress in the implementation of alternative sentences and announced that an ongoing study aims to identify the underlying reasons for this sluggish pace. Additionally, he responded to a query regarding the automatic reduction of sentences under the new criminal procedure, indicating that individuals serving sentences of one year or less could receive a reduction of five days per month, while those serving longer sentences could see a reduction of one month per year and two days per month.
The minister also highlighted that the scope of beneficiaries for these automatic reductions has been broadened to include individuals with prior convictions, provided they demonstrate improved behavior. Since the rollout of these measures from January 29 to March 15, nearly 88,000 inmates have benefited, resulting in the immediate release of 8,947 prisoners. This has led to a decrease in the prison population from approximately 109,000 to 99,000 inmates, reflecting the government's commitment to encouraging disciplined behavior among prisoners and active participation in rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
Overall, the alternative sentencing framework in Morocco is designed to link improvements in inmate behavior with automatic sentence reductions, aiming to foster a more rehabilitative approach to justice.
As reported by lopinion.ma.
