Maldives moves to expand community sentencing for minor offenses
Maldives begins operationalizing non-custodial sentencing framework, offering community service or house arrest instead of jail
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives Correctional Service has begun implementing community sentencing as an alternative to prison terms for people convicted of minor offenses, marking a shift toward restorative justice in the island nation’s criminal system.
The move seeks to operationalize legal provisions introduced under the country’s 2014 Penal Code, which allow courts to replace imprisonment with non-custodial measures such as community service, house arrest or a combination of both. Until now, those provisions have largely remained underused.
Under Maldivian law, a one-year prison sentence can be converted into two years of house arrest or 1,920 hours of community service. A seven-day jail term may be replaced with 40 hours of unpaid public work. Authorities say the updated framework aims to ensure that low-risk offenders remain connected to their communities while being held accountable.
In November 2025, the Maldives Correctional Service signed an agreement with the Huvadhoo Atoll Council to facilitate community placements. Officials are also in discussions with several state-owned enterprises to identify suitable public service roles, including municipal maintenance, environmental cleanups and infrastructure support projects.
The correctional authority is drafting detailed regulations to govern how non-custodial sentences will be carried out, including supervision mechanisms and performance evaluations. Officials said individuals convicted of serious or violent crimes, as well as those serving long-term sentences, will not qualify for the program.
Community sentencing is increasingly viewed globally as a way to reduce prison overcrowding, lower recidivism rates and support rehabilitation. By allowing eligible offenders to perform structured public service, governments aim to balance accountability with reintegration rather than isolation.
Maldivian authorities said the initiative is part of broader reforms to improve detention conditions, strengthen human rights protections and expand vocational and life-skills training within the correctional system.
The program will also include public awareness efforts designed to reduce stigma and support the social reintegration of those who complete their sentences.
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