At a time when countries are racing towards security, Bahrain chose to take a further step: to make justice a lever for reform, not just a means of punishment, and at a time when there are still traditional international punitive systems that are under the burdens of overcrowding, violation and repetition, Bahrain demonstrates – from a tangible reality, not slogans – that a person is not built in the dungeon, but is restored in society.
The first international conference for alternative penalties and open prisons, organized by the Ministry of Interior, was not just an institutional demonstration, but a strategic declaration of a new stage in the path of criminal justice in the Kingdom, a stage titled: Reform of the perpetrator, the preservation of society, and the hope industry.
The speech of His Excellency the Minister of the Interior, His Excellency the first team, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, came to carry the essence of the idea: “The alternative punishment is a survival rope for those who realized his mistake.” It is not a rhetorical courtesy, but rather an integrated philosophy that believes that the state is not punished for breaking, but rather disciplined to adopt, and is held accountable for guidance, as the alternative punishment is not easy, but rather conditional responsibility, gives the mistake the opportunity to correct the path, and motivates him to integrate the productive in his society, this vision has turned into an integrated system, which began to implement since 2018, and resulted in results worthy of standing at it:
1- More than 6370 beneficiaries from alternative penalties until March 2024, among different categories of citizens and residents.
2- The rate of return to the crime between the beneficiaries did not exceed 2.3%, which is one of the lowest rates globally (compared to 20-50% in many countries of the world).
3- The number of violators of alternative penalties decreased from 129 cases in 2018 to less than 40 cases in 2023, which reflects the efficacy of institutional control and societal commitment.
4. The launch of the Excellence Center for alternative penalties and open prisons, as an intellectual training institution, which reflects the will of the state to turn into a regional center for modern reform justice.
What Bahrain accomplished is inseparable from a comprehensive vision made by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country, and re -embodied it on the ground, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, so that justice is part of the modern state project, a project that is not satisfied with preserving security, but rather through the rehabilitation of man, not taking revenge on it.
The opening of alternative doors for the convicts – from societal work to electronic monitoring to house arrest – is not a waiver of judicial sovereignty, but rather a renewal in its concept, and the awareness that the social cost of the prison is not just financial expenses, but to the loss of families, family disintegration, and the reproduction of crimes, and studies indicate that the cost of the traditional prisoner annually may reach thousands of dinars, while the cost of alternative punishment decreases by a rate It exceeds 60%, which reduces the burdens of the state and enhances the sustainability of justice.
In this way, reformist justice has become a guarantee of human dignity, a basis for crime prevention, and a pillar of confidence between the citizen and his institutions.
When the American ambassador to Bahrain spoke about the Kingdom’s experience in alternative sanctions, he described it as “inspiring”, praising the will of reform and the rule of law, as well as the conference received a wide acclaim from regional and international delegations and organizations, which put Bahrain at the Gulf and Arab leadership site in modernizing criminal justice.
On the other hand, many countries are still suffering from legislative chaos, conflicts between powers, and the absence of realistic legal alternatives, which makes the Bahrain experience a road map for everyone who seeks civilized and human justice, and the most important thing in the conference was not in the words, but between the lines.
There is an explicit invitation to:
1- Updating legislation related to alternative penalties constantly, to include electronic crimes and modern misdemeanors.
2- The involvement of the private and private sector in rehabilitation programs, which opens broader prospects for development.
3- Creating societal awareness that “justice is not only imprisonment”, but sometimes with opportunity and containment.
4- Establishing an Arab regional network to exchange experiences in the field of reform justice.
At a time when security and social challenges are increasing, Bahrain chose to bet on man, to turn the law from restricting to an opportunity, to make justice a project for development, not a tool for revenge.
Today, in front of every Bahraini citizen, a success story narrated on the ground, a success that begins with a brave law, a vigilance institution, and a partner community in reform.
Thus, Bahrain writes – another time – a new chapter in the book of the modern state, where justice is practiced, not an authority, but rather as a value that exalts the human being and enhances the security of the homelands.
* Media and academic researcher
