Modern Jordanian criminal policy has spared 14,136 individuals convicted of various offenses—most of them first-time offenders—from imprisonment over the past eight years, instead providing them with alternative sentences that helped modify their behavior and grant them a second chance in life after the mistakes they committed.
اضافة اعلان
According to Ministry of Justice figures, 11,181 case files were referred to the Ministry out of the 14,136 alternative-sentence rulings issued by the competent judicial authorities. The Ministry successfully implemented 9,740 of those rulings, while 1,441 files are still under process and implementation.
Jordan began applying alternative penalties in 2018, when 7 rulings were issued. In 2019, the number reached 124; in 2020, 286; in 2021, 302; in 2022, 4,193; in 2023, 3,921; and in 2024, 2,392 rulings were issued.
The Ministry explained that during the first ten months of the current year, the courts issued 2,911 rulings, of which 2,318 were referred to the Ministry, and 1,875 have since been implemented and completed.
Alternative sentencing covers a wide array of personal stories. In one case, the Amman Magistrate Court sentenced a university student to an alternative penalty consisting of reciting and memorizing portions of the Qur’an, after he was proven to have assaulted and threatened another person—who later dropped the personal charges against him.
The young man, the sole breadwinner for his family, acted recklessly and harmed another person. After the victim dropped personal charges, the public right was also dropped, and the court decided to give him a chance to correct his behavior through an alternative sentence by referring him to the Ministry of Awqaf to recite and memorize Qur’anic passages.
Addressing Overcrowding in Reform Centers
Minister of Justice Dr. Bassam Talhouni stated that since the introduction of alternatives to deprivation-of-liberty penalties, many convicted individuals have been given a new opportunity to correct their behavior and avoid imprisonment, which encourages them not to repeat their offenses. Alternative sentences aim to prevent the harmful consequences of imprisonment by allowing those convicted of minor offenses to remain integrated within society.
He affirmed that Jordan’s modern and advanced criminal policy has helped address overcrowding in reform and rehabilitation centers, reduce the financial burden on the state treasury, prevent non-recidivist offenders from mixing with dangerous criminals, and curb the spread of criminal behavior—all proving to be effective over the years. He stressed that expanding these alternatives in line with the requirements of justice is extremely important.
He explained that these reforms stem from the Royal Vision, specifically the Sixth Discussion Paper of His Majesty King Abdullah II, titled “The Rule of Law and Civil State.” Based on this vision, community-based sentence alternatives were introduced into the Penal Code through 2017 amendments, adding Article 25 (Repeated) on community reform alternatives and Article 54 (Repeated/2) on their conditions.
According to the 2025 amendments to the Penal Code, courts have the authority in all misdemeanors and felonies punishable by up to three years of temporary imprisonment—excluding repeat offenders and based on social case reports and case-specific circumstances—to replace the imposed sentence, even if final, with one or more alternative penalties.
Minister Talhouni noted that violations of the law often occur due to anger or behavioral instability, making it necessary to introduce alternatives that correct behavior under judicial supervision.
He added that alternative penalties offer significant benefits for both society and the convicted individual, as the latter does not lose their source of income—which would become a burden on their family. To implement these alternatives, the Ministry signed memorandums of understanding with several ministries and official institutions, ensuring gender considerations, disability inclusion, and suitability for all categories.
He emphasized that alternative sentences have become an essential component of modern criminal justice systems and are included in many UN memorandums, having been adopted by most international and regional legal frameworks due to their substantial positive impact.
Implementation of alternative penalties has had noticeable effects on many families and beneficiaries. Many have begun carrying out their assigned alternatives, monitored through a clear, structured, and transparent mechanism led by designated liaison officers in the courts, in coordination with the Ministry’s Directorate of Community Sanctions.
The Penal Code and its amendments identify the types of alternatives to imprisonment, including community service, rehabilitation programs, voluntary enrollment in addiction treatment programs, electronic monitoring, banning entry into certain locations or geographical areas, and partial or full home confinement paired with electronic monitoring.
The 2025 amended law granted the Sentence Enforcement Judge several authorities, including overseeing the implementation of alternative penalties, taking measures to ensure compliance, replacing one alternative with another, and adjusting the duration of the alternative sentence based on social and follow-up reports. If the convicted person fails to comply for a valid reason or presents an acceptable excuse, the judge may refer the case back to the issuing court to consider revoking the alternative and executing the original sentence.
The Ministry of Justice, through the Directorate of Community Sanctions, is responsible for supervising and coordinating the implementation of these alternatives, preparing regular compliance reports, and proposing suitable rehabilitation programs and public-benefit work activities, as well as updating the list of approved institutions.
Minister Talhouni explained that liaison officers play a key role by preparing social case reports according to a standardized template, studying the convicted person’s circumstances, recommending suitable alternatives, and submitting these recommendations to the court, which then issues its decision in accordance with the law to complete the implementation process. (Petra)
