A recent report released by the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Rehabilitation revealed that bachelors, individuals involved in financial crimes, and drug dealers constitute the majority of the inmate population in Moroccan prisons as of September 2022.
The report provides comprehensive insights into the composition of the prison population, including crime types, demographics, and recidivism rates.
Financial criminals take the lead among inmates, numbering 29,622 out of a total of 102,000 prisoners.
Following closely are individuals involved in consumption and drug trafficking offenses, accounting for 29,180 inmates.
Crimes against persons come next with 16,396 prisoners, while violations of public safety and order involve over 12,000 inmates. While crimes against family and public morals encompass 10,000 prisoners.
The report also notes that more than 15,000 inmates are awaiting a final verdict, constituting 15% of the total prison population. Among those sentenced, individuals serving two years or less constitute the largest group, surpassing 44,000 inmates and making up 43% of the prison population.
Life sentences are relatively rare, with 541 individuals representing 0.53%.
In terms of age demographics, the prison population between 18 and 40 years old totals 78,481, constituting 76% of the overall count, while those below 18 years old number 1,441, making up 1.4%.
The majority of inmates are engaged in freelance professions, totaling approximately 37,000 individuals and comprising 36% of the prison population.
Craftsmen form the second-largest group with over 23,000 inmates, representing 22%, while unemployed individuals account for 15%, totaling 15,414 prisoners.
Education-wise, the majority of prisoners have completed secondary education, numbering over 47,000, or 46%. Those with basic education make up 40,000, or 39%, while illiterate inmates exceed 11,000, constituting 10%.
Regarding family status, single individuals lead the prison population with over 64,000, constituting 62%, followed by married individuals with more than 31,000, making up 31%, and divorced individuals totalling 5,721, representing 5%.
Foreign prisoners, totalling 1,432, are also covered in the report, with Senegalese inmates topping the list at 197, followed by Nigerians with 134, and Sudanese with 128, among others.
Reintegration statistics reveal that 24.6% of released prisoners reoffend, with 49.4% returning within the first year after release. The General Delegate emphasized that reoffending rates differ by gender, with 7.8% for females and 25.3% for males.
Regarding age groups, individuals between 18 and 30 years old exhibit the highest reoffending rate, accounting for 28.7%.
The study underscores the role of criminal records as a significant factor influencing reoffending, with a 63.3% rate for individuals with three or more prior convictions, compared to 16.1% for those without any criminal history.
The study positioned Morocco positively compared to some advanced countries, with a reoffending rate of 18.4%, significantly lower than 43% in Canada, 45% in Australia, 25% in South Korea, and 30% in Spain, over a two-year follow-up period.