The presidency of the government, the Prison Administration (DGAPR), the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), the National Police, and the Gendarmerie Royale have approved a draft law on four alternatives to prison sentences, according to 2M on Friday.
The first draft of the bill was put forth in June, and after consulting with the various agencies and organizations mentioned above, modifications were introduced to produce the final bill that is available now.
The decision was made to address prison overcrowding in Morocco, and the perceived need to better reintegrate previously incarcerated individuals who had only committed minor offenses. The defendant’s social and economic conditions may also be investigated before these penalties are applied.
The first alternative sentence is community service for people over the age of 15, ranging from 40 to 600 hours of unpaid work. This work could be performed in service of the government, places of worship, or with non-governmental organizations, and must be carried out within one year of sentencing.
The second alternative is the daily fines running from 100 and 2,000 MAD a day, depending on the prisoner’s financial means and the seriousness of the crime committed. The total fine must be paid to the State within 6 months of the judgment. This sentence would be applicable to minors, subject to a guardian’s approval.
The third option is electronic surveillance, which entails monitoring a person’s movements within Moroccan territory or within a certain area, pursuant to the parameters imposed by the judge. This approach can also be used on minors subject to a guardian’s approval.
The fourth option is a combination of options, including periodic reporting to authorities, house arrest, completion of a specialized training or vocational courses, rehab treatment, a legal commitment to pay reparations or physically repair damage to victims and their families, or to cease all contact with the victims and their families. This combination of options must take into consideration the formally incarcerated person’s civil rights, along with those of the victim.
There are 4 crimes excluded from this list: embezzlement, corruption, or abuse of power; international trafficking in drugs or psychotropic substances; trafficking in human organs; and sexual exploitation of minors.
The legislation will become law once it has received the approval of Parliament, and as soon as it is published in the Official Bulletin.