depenalisation
Depenalisation refers to a legal reform that reduces the criminal penalties attached to certain offenses, while keeping the conduct illegal. Under depenalisation, penalties may be moved from criminal sanctions to non-criminal remedies such as fines, administrative penalties, warnings, or diversion programs. The offense remains part of the criminal law framework, but enforcement emphasizes less punitive responses and lower-court involvement.
Depenalisation is distinct from decriminalisation, which typically removes criminal penalties altogether and may treat the conduct
Mechanisms commonly associated with depenalisation include issuing civil fines instead of arrests, issuing cautions or warnings,
Supporters argue that depenalisation can reduce prison populations, lower enforcement costs, and align penalties with harms