For the first time in Jordan’s judicial history, a court has sentenced an offender to community service in place of a prison sentence, Al Rai newspaper reported.

A judge in the First Instance Court of East Amman has ordered an alternative punishment, after ruling that the offender has caused public damages in the community and should repay by fixing them, a source at the Ministry of Justice told Al Rai.

The Alternative Penalties Directorate is now working to determine the type of suitable punishment the convict will have to undertake, taking into consideration that it must be compatible with their cultural and educational backgrounds, so that they are able to benefit the community with their compulsory service.

Despite introducing the “alternative penalties system” in March, this is the first time a judge has applied this type of punishment.

According to Article 27 of the revised Penal Code, the “alternative penalties system” stipulates that community service hours must not exceed 200 hours or go under 40 hours, and must be completed, under supervision, within one year.

The “alternative penalties system” will only apply to cases where a judge can suspend the punishment, including in cases where the sentence is less than one year.

In an effort to apply the “alternative penalties system,” the Ministry of Justice has signed more than eight agreements with other ministries, in order to create appropriate areas and “community service jobs” for the offenders to undertake.

Minister of Justice Awad Abu Jarad noted that "punishments that deprive offenders from their freedom pose serious social risks and often lead to their isolation from society, in addition to being unaccepted in the job market.”

Jarad said that applying the “alternative penalties system” would reduce government spending on prisoners from JD90 million per year to JD69 million per year.