The Alternative Sentences Law and Law No. 10.23 concerning the organization and management of penal institutions have come into effect in Morocco. This implementation follows approximately two months after the House of Representatives approved it in a public session, marking an important step in reforming the judicial and penal system in the kingdom.
The new law aims to broaden the scope of benefiting from alternative sentences, excluding serious crimes and repeat offenders. It also outlines measures to address the damages caused by crime. According to the law, alternative sentences are defined as “penalties imposed as substitutes for custodial sentences in misdemeanors for which the imposed sentence does not exceed five years of effective imprisonment.”
The law specifies alternative sentences in several forms, including:
- Community service
- Electronic monitoring
- Restriction of certain rights
- Imposition of supervisory, therapeutic, or rehabilitation measures
- Daily fines
This law is considered an important step toward modernizing the criminal justice system in Morocco, as it aims to alleviate pressure on penal institutions and provide more effective alternatives for rehabilitating individuals convicted of less serious crimes. It also seeks to balance between punishment and social reintegration, taking into account the interests of society and the rights of victims.
