Influences
Justice: Entry into force of the new criminal procedure law
Law No. 03.23, published in the Official Bulletin, reforms the Code of Criminal Procedure by strengthening defense rights, regulating police custody, protecting victims, and limiting pre-trial detention, as part of the overall modernization of the Moroccan judicial system.
Morocco is taking a major step in modernizing its judicial system. Law No. 03.23 relating to criminal procedure, published in Official Bulletin No. 7437 of September 8, 2025, entered into force this Monday, December 8, 2025, according to a statement.
According to the same source, this reform is part of the High Royal Guidelines aimed at strengthening the rule of law, modernizing justice, and accompanying the profound transformations the country is undergoing.
The new law, which amends and supplements the Code of Criminal Procedure, establishes several major advances in terms of judicial rights and guarantees. It reaffirms defense rights, the presumption of innocence, and the right to be tried within a reasonable time, while expanding access to legal assistance, the statement specifies.
The text also introduces strengthened regulation of police custody, including informing the person of their rights, the possibility of contacting a lawyer, and access to translation services when necessary. Furthermore, pre-trial detention is now limited to strictly required cases, with an obligation to justify decisions and implement modernized alternative measures.
Victims also benefit from expanded rights, including access to information on the progress of proceedings, legal and social support, as well as specific measures for women and children victims of violence. The law also provides for the creation of a National Observatory on Crime, intended to guide criminal policy based on reliable and updated data.
On this occasion, the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, emphasized that “this law constitutes an essential pillar of the major reform dynamic undertaken by our country. It reflects the State’s confidence in its institutions and its ability to carry out large-scale transformations, making Moroccan justice a model of reference at the regional and international levels.”
He added: “The government, in line with the High Royal Guidelines, is firmly determined to make judicial reform a major lever for the success of upcoming national milestones, notably the preparation for the 2030 World Cup. The modernization of the judicial system and the guarantee of enhanced legal security constitute decisive factors for increasing Morocco’s international attractiveness.”
According to the minister, this reform is not limited to a simple technical adjustment: “it reflects a societal and political choice aimed at establishing an effective and balanced justice system, ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms while guaranteeing the necessary effectiveness of the criminal response.”
The adoption of Law No. 03.23 thus represents a cornerstone of the modernization of the Moroccan judicial system. It is the culmination of a participatory process involving all relevant institutions and stakeholders, and reflects the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to pursuing legislative reform in order to strengthen citizens’ confidence in justice, to drive a new dynamic in human rights, and to support the ambitions of Morocco’s new development model by 2030, the statement specifies.
