10th Judicial Package

Amendments were made to the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law, the Administrative Procedure Law, and the Code of Civil Procedure stipulating that, regarding the finality threshold for appeals and cassation applications, the monetary limits in effect at the date the lawsuit was filed, rather than the date the decision was rendered, shall be taken as the basis.

The lower and upper limits of sentences that can be imposed for many types of crimes regulated under the Turkish Penal Code have been increased.

The sentencing scale for the simplest form of intentional injury, which can be resolved with simple medical intervention, has been increased from 4-12 months to 6-18 months; the lower limit for such crimes committed against women has been raised from 6 months to 9 months; the lower limit for cases resulting in permanent damage has been raised from 3 years to 4 years; and the lower limit for cases resulting in fractures/dislocations has been raised from 5 years to 6 years.

Depending on the impact of the fracture/dislocation on vital functions, the lower limit has been raised from 8 years to 9 years; the sentence for intentional injury resulting in death has been increased from 8-12 years to 10-14 years; and the lower limit for death occurring after a fracture/dislocation resulting from intentional injury has been raised from 12 years to 14 years.

The lower limit of the sentence for driving under the influence of high alcohol levels has been increased from 3 months to 6 months, and the upper limit of the sentence for the crime of threat, if committed with a weapon or by an organized group, has been increased from 5 years to 7 years.

With the amendment made to the Law on the Execution of Penalties and Security Measures, it has been made possible for convicts to benefit from probation, provided they have served at least 5 days in a penal institution and have completed 10% of the time required to be spent until the conditional release date.

It has been regulated that conditional release can be granted if two-thirds of a fixed-term prison sentence is served in good standing in a penal institution, and the scope of the weekend or nighttime execution method for intentional crimes has been extended from 18 months to 3 years, and for negligent crimes (excluding negligent homicide) from 3 years to 5 years.

It has been made possible for an execution judge to decide that prison sentences of a total of 3 years or less for women, children, and individuals over the age of 65; a total of 4 years or less for those over 70; a total of 5 years or less for those over 75; and a total of 6 years or less for those over 80 may be served at home.

Regulations have been introduced for patients who cannot live alone in prison and do not pose a serious threat to public safety—excluding those sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment—to serve their sentences at home, and for convicts with sentences exceeding 10 years to be monitored via electronic devices.

An amendment was made to the Law on Private International Law and Procedure, stipulating that, except for mandatory provisions and provisions where the law of the place of performance must be applied, parties to employment contracts shall be subject to the law they have determined in their contract.