HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
In the first digital assessment of the implementation of the alternative sentencing system in Morocco, the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Wahbi, revealed the results, reflecting a gradual shift towards reducing reliance on custodial sentences and promoting more flexible and effective alternatives.
Wahbi explained that the period from August 2025 to February 2026 saw the issuance of 1392 alternative sentences, 838 of which were implemented, which contributed to the release of 782 detainees, an practical indicator of the direct impact of this reform project on alleviating overcrowding within prison institutions. These sentences, according to official data, were distributed among daily fines, which topped the list, followed by the sentence of work for the public good, along with other measures that include restricting some rights or subjecting those concerned to rehabilitation and monitoring programs, as well as limited use of electronic monitoring. At the implementation level, the Minister of Justice highlighted that the number of executive decisions reached 1054, 838 of which were activated, while some cases are still in the process of implementation, especially those related to daily fines. There were also cases of refusal and violation, totaling 85 cases, which reflects the existence of field challenges that require more follow-up and tracking. The government official stressed that these figures reflect the beginning of consolidating this reform project, which aims to establish a more balanced criminal justice system, based on the proportionality between the penalty and the criminal act, and opens the way for the reintegration of those convicted within society, without prejudice to the principle of deterrence and the protection of public order. Alternative sentences, stipulated in Law 43.22, are seen as one of the most prominent entry points for modernizing the criminal policy in Morocco, by transitioning from the logic of mere deterrence to a more humane and effective approach, taking into account the social and economic dimensions of the penalty, and giving the judiciary broader tools to deal with non-serious cases.
