Pretrial detention hits 45% of Moroccan prisoners, highest since 2011

Pre-trial detainees account for 45% of the total prison population of 84,393 individuals as of October, marking the highest percentage since 2011, according to the annual report by the Moroccan Prison Observatory.

The report said that the concerning trend of pre-trial detention, a measure intended to be exceptional, is becoming the norm. 

This situation has exacerbated prison overcrowding, despite repeated warnings from human rights advocates and recommendations to curtail such practices.

The Observatory emphasized the imperative of upholding the presumption of innocence and strengthening the rights of the accused. It called for stricter controls on pre-trial detention orders and guarantees for their appeal. 

The report called for the implementation of alternative penalties and improvements in the application of conditional release as solutions to alleviate overcrowding and enhance prison conditions.

Abdallah Mesdad, Secretary-General of the Moroccan Prison Observatory, told Hespress Ar that imprisonment should not be the sole option available and that it’s crucial to consider alternative measures, such as appearance guarantees and judicial supervision.

Mesdad said that statistics show that a significant proportion of pre-trial detainees are either acquitted or receive reduced sentences that do not warrant imprisonment. The solution lies in adopting alternative penalties as a fundamental legal option.

The Secretary-General pointed out a growing movement to promote alternatives to incarceration, particularly for minor offenses that do not require severe punishments, such as sentences of up to six or even 20 months.

Mesdad further called for a review of certain crimes linked to social and economic circumstances, such as poverty or drug use, suggesting that drug-related issues should be approached from a therapeutic rather than a criminal perspective. 

“Globally, there is a trend towards decriminalizing minor offenses and crimes stemming from poverty, reflecting the philosophy of modern criminal justice,” Mesdad noted. 

He added that the aim is to reduce reliance on prisons as a primary solution and promote alternatives that ensure justice without compromising the lives of individuals or society.