House of Representatives: Justice and Legislation Committee approves alternative sentencing bill by majority
Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 0:02
Rabat – The Committee on Justice, Legislation and Human Rights in the House of Representatives approved, on Wednesday, by majority, Bill No. 43.22 relating to alternative penalties, in the presence of the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi.
The bill, approved by 18 votes in favor, with eight abstentions, aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for alternative penalties, based on the fundamental principles of criminal law in terms of sanctions and by providing mechanisms and procedural standards , to be integrated into the Code of Criminal Procedure, for the monitoring and implementation of alternative penalties.
Numerous amendments were presented by parliamentary groups and groups, mainly aimed at defining alternative sentences and their methods of execution.
Among these modifications is that proposed by the majority groups, and relating to the introduction of the penalty of the “daily fine” alongside other penalties such as community service, electronic surveillance, and certain restrictions or control, therapeutic and requalification measures, with a view to remedying the problem of prison overcrowding.
To determine the amount of this fine, the court will take into account the financial situation of the convicted individual, the seriousness of the crime and its consequences.
The Commission also approved the increase in the hours of “work of general interest”, establishing between 40 and 3600 hours for the benefit of various establishments, institutions and organizations.
Another amendment, proposed by the socialist-opposition Ittihadie group, stipulates that work of general interest must, where applicable, correspond to the profession and trade of the convicted person, their qualifications and abilities, or complement their professional activity usual, with a deadline not exceeding six months after the judicial decision.
The committee also approved an amendment relating to electronic surveillance, proposed by the socialist-opposition Ittihadie group.
