Starting this Friday, Morocco is rolling out a major reform aimed at transforming its criminal justice system. With the enforcement decree of Law 43.22 now officially published, the country is activating a long-anticipated system of alternative sentencing—a shift designed to ease prison overcrowding while enhancing judicial efficiency.
The reform specifically targets non-violent, low-level offenses committed by individuals without prior convictions. For these cases, courts now have the option to impose penalties that avoid incarceration while still maintaining a framework of accountability and rehabilitation.
The new law introduces four types of alternative measures. Community service tops the list, with a conversion scale that equates three hours of work to one day in prison. Sentences can range from 40 to 3,600 hours, depending on the offense. Another key option is electronic monitoring, requiring the offender to remain within a designated area during strict time windows.
The system also includes rehabilitative and restrictive measures. These can involve mandatory treatment programs, house arrest, or the suspension of certain rights. In some cases, a daily fine may be issued—adjusted to fit both the severity of the crime and the financial capacity of the offender. These fines range from 100 to 2,000 dirhams per day.
However, not all crimes qualify for these alternatives. Serious offenses such as terrorism, corruption, embezzlement of public funds, international drug trafficking, and sexual crimes involving minors or individuals with disabilities are explicitly excluded from the new framework.
This shift signals a significant turning point for Morocco’s justice system. By prioritizing accountability, restitution, and reintegration over automatic imprisonment, the country is moving toward a more modern, balanced penal policy—one that upholds the core principles of law while adapting to the challenges of the present.
