KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: Dr. Mohammed Al-Wasmi, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, announced that the explanatory memorandum of the draft law on alternative procedures and penalties has been completed and referred to the Fatwa and Legislation Authority, reports Al-Seyassah daily. This draft law, first revealed by Minister Al-Wasmi in July, represents a new approach to penal policy, aimed at reforms for individuals convicted of minor to moderately severe offenses without imprisonment, thereby avoiding contact with hardened criminals and allowing them to remain in their social environment under specific obligations. Minister Al-Wasmi highlighted two main objectives of the law -- rehabilitating the accused or convicted individuals through non-custodial measures, keeping them integrated into their normal environment, and redefining criminal prosecution by enabling alternative procedures that may resolve cases within the investigating authority instead of court.

He emphasized that these alternative procedures do not amount to a criminal conviction or create a criminal record but serve as reform measures aimed at behavior correction. The law stipulates that alternative procedures must last from one month to one year. Geographically, these measures are limited to Kuwait, though they may accommodate emergency travel needs, subject to investigative authority approval. The draft law also outlines community service requirements, limiting work to six hours a day, five days a week. It grants courts the power to impose house arrest instead of imprisonment, restricting individuals to their residence or another designated location, with possible allowances for limited daily outings.