Ombudswoman: Bahrain's expansion of alternative sentencing aligns with international best practices

Ghada Hameed Habib, Ombudswoman and Chairperson of the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC), said that Bahrain’s approach of expanding the range of alternative sentencing aligns with international best practices, including UN standards such as the Tokyo Rules and the Bangkok Rules, which focus on non-custodial measures and reducing prison overcrowding.

Habib said that the implementation of the Alternative Sentencing Law, which has benefitted over 7,000 inmates, has introduced a more effective approach to managing inmates affairs. This strategy not only helps prevent overcrowding in correctional facilities but also leads to other benefits, such as more efficient use of financial and human resources.