Radio ExpressTV
Live
Public Prosecutor’s Report 2024: Figures Reveal Daily Pressure and Reforms Leading to a More Effective Justice System
In a significant institutional moment, the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Hicham Belhouri, presented the annual report for the year 2024 to the High Judicial Council. The report provided a comprehensive, precise, and at times bold depiction of the current state of public prosecutions, highlighting both achievements and the pressing challenges faced.
Now in its eighth edition since the Public Prosecutor’s Office was established in 2017, the report goes beyond merely presenting figures or summarizing outcomes. It reflects a cumulative journey aimed at reinforcing transparency and linking responsibility with accountability. It emphasizes that the Public Prosecutor’s Office has become a central player in implementing criminal policy and reforming the entire justice system.
Digital Transformation and Structural Modernization
The report’s opening section pointed out that 2024 represented a pivotal stage in structural modernization and digital transformation. A review of the administrative organization led to the establishment of a “Modernization and Information Systems Hub,” reflecting an increasing awareness that the justice system today cannot operate with the same traditional tools. This hub, along with other structures, has been a catalyst for accelerating digitization, from electronic signatures to smart dashboards, and developing case-tracking systems while enhancing cybersecurity to align with the national goals of “Digital Morocco 2030.”
In the same vein, the Public Prosecutor’s Office continued its guiding role by issuing 19 circulars during the year, covering the implementation of criminal policy, alternative penalties, international judicial cooperation, and standardizing professional practices within public prosecutions to ensure cohesive judicial work at the national level.
Figures Highlighting the Depth of Pressure
The first section of the report presents figures that reflect the daily pressure on public prosecutors. The number of prosecutors reached 1,223, a notable increase from 2023, though still insufficient given the structural shortfalls, especially when compared to international averages. Despite this, public prosecutions managed to resolve over 497,000 complaints and completed more than 2.3 million reports, showing a significant reduction in backlog, indicative of improved efficiency and closer coordination with the judicial police.
Figures related to pre-trial detention also carried strong implications, as 2024 recorded the lowest percentage in the last decade, indicating the success of efforts to rationalize this exceptional measure and enhance legal alternatives, balancing security protection with the guarantee of rights and freedoms.
Criminal Policy with a Human Rights Focus
In the realm of criminal policy execution, it is clear that the focus remained directed toward protecting human rights. Public prosecutors took allegations of mistreatment and torture seriously and increased visits to places of detention, often exceeding the legally mandated minimum. The Office continued its efforts to protect vulnerable groups, registering a decrease in cases of violence against women, contrasted by a worrying rise in violence against children, which necessitated the strengthening of protection and intervention mechanisms.
In the area of public life integrity, the report confirmed the effectiveness of the direct reporting hotline for corruption, with calls leading to real-time interventions and convictions, sending a clear message that fighting corruption is not merely a slogan but a daily practice.
Realistic Recommendations and Open Questions
The report’s conclusions were not flattering. It sounded the alarm about the acute shortage of human resources, needing nearly 800 additional judges, along with specialized staff in social and information fields. Recommendations emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the reform of legal frameworks, update the penal code, expand digitization to include electronic reporting and remote postal services, and provide suitable frameworks for protecting children and victims of human trafficking.
Ultimately, the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s report for 2024 presents a complex picture: real achievements in modernization and rationalizing practice face increasing pressure and structural challenges that can only be resolved through profound legislative reforms and greater investment in human resources. Amidst these dynamics, the primary challenge remains to reinforce public trust in justice, making the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as its president asserted, closer to society and more committed to the values of a state governed by law.
