Criminal Justice in Morocco Reimagined: Full Breakdown of the 2025 Reform

Parliament adopts sweeping justice reform with 47–15 vote, enhancing due process protections and signaling a major step toward a modern, rights-based legal system.

Rabat, July 2025 — In a rare moment of cross-sectoral consensus and public anticipation, Morocco’s Lower House of Parliament has approved a sweeping overhaul of the country’s Criminal Procedure Code, ushering in a new chapter for justice in the Kingdom. With 47 votes in favor and 15 against, the reform is being hailed as a milestone in protecting civil liberties, ensuring fair trials, and modernizing legal practices in line with international human rights standards.

As families across the country grapple with the realities of a justice system often criticized for delays and overuse of pretrial detention, the vote offers a sense of hope. “For the first time, I believe the system may begin to listen before it punishes,” said Fatima El Idrissi, whose son spent nearly 10 months in pretrial custody before charges were dropped.

🔍 Key Provisions of the Reform

The approved legislation introduces several transformative changes:

• Reduced Police Detention Time: The maximum period of police identity verification has been cut from 6 hours to 4 hours, extendable only to 8 hours with prosecutorial oversight.
• Alternatives to Incarceration: Judges are now encouraged to consider non-custodial sentences, reducing pressure on overcrowded prisons and minimizing harm to families.
• Protection of Assets: The law prohibits the seizure of personal earnings or inheritance unrelated to a crime—safeguarding family livelihoods.
• Digital Notification System: In a push for e-justice, court notifications will now be delivered through secure digital platforms, ending the outdated practice of public summons.
• Safeguards for Young Offenders: The minimum age for detention over civil debts rises to 20, and jail time for unpaid fines under 8,000 MAD (~$800) is eliminated.

📣 Voices from the Justice Sector

“This reform is more than symbolic—it’s structural,” said Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi. “It’s a foundation for a more humane, equitable justice system. The state must be strong, but also just.”

The Minister emphasized that the reform aligns with Morocco’s 2011 Constitution, which places human dignity and due process at the heart of national governance.

International observers also praised the move. “We welcome the reduction in pretrial detention reliance and improved access to counsel,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International North Africa. “This is a good step, though implementation will be key.”

⚖️ Broader Significance and Controversy

This legislative win comes alongside other justice reform efforts, including the Alternative Sentencing Law, which introduces community service and electronic monitoring as options to prison.

However, not all provisions were met with applause. Civil society groups voiced alarm over restrictions on NGO participation in corruption trials. “This risks weakening accountability,” warned Ahmed Bernoussi of Transparency Maroc. The government contends these measures streamline judicial procedure and avoid politicization of legal actions.

Still, the overarching direction is clear: Morocco is signaling a turn toward restorative justice, procedural fairness, and the digitalization of legal systems.