AKP and the Ministry of Justice are working on it: Here are the details of the new judicial package... Is early release coming?

Significant changes to the penal execution system are being planned in the new judicial package currently being prepared by the AKP and the Ministry of Justice.

With the proposed regulation, the ratio of time that individuals convicted of repeat offenses spend in prison is being redefined.

While current legislation does not apply any execution reduction for repeat offenses, the entirety of the sentences must be served in prison regardless of the nature of the crime.

Under the current regulation in the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK), convicts to whom repeat offense provisions are applied for the second time cannot benefit from conditional release or probation. However, in general penal execution practices, reductions are provided at certain rates for other crimes.

PENAL EXECUTION RATE FOR REPEAT OFFENSES WILL BE REDUCED

If the new regulation is implemented, changes will be made to the execution process for individuals convicted of repeat offenses.

Accordingly, those who receive sentences for repeat offenses will be able to serve three-quarters of their sentences in prison and complete the remaining one-quarter outside under conditional release. For example, a convict who receives a 10-year prison sentence due to a repeat offense will spend 7.5 years in prison and will be able to serve the remaining 2.5 years outside.

AIMING TO REINTEGRATE CRIMINALS INTO SOCIETY

In evaluations made by AKP sources, it was pointed out that the current practice regarding repeat offenses creates an unfair situation in the execution system. While it was stated that the lack of any flexibility for repeat offenses is criticized while execution reductions are applied for other crimes, it was emphasized that the main purpose of the regulation is to rehabilitate criminals and reintegrate them into society.

It was stated that because there are no incentive elements in prisons, repeat offenders cause more problems, and therefore the execution system needs to be reviewed.

SUPPORT FOR THE REGULATION FROM MHP

In a statement made by MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız, it was recalled that even for terror crimes, the execution rate is applied as three-quarters, and it was stated that it is not fair for the entire sentence to be served in prison for repeat offenses.

It was stated that the AKP plans to reach a consensus with opposition parties on the new regulation and submit it to Parliament as a joint motion.

EVALUATION PROCESS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED

If the regulation enters into force, not every repeat offender will automatically be included in the scope of conditional release. When the time for conditional release arrives, an evaluation will be made by taking into account the convicts' behavior in prison, their compliance with rules, whether they have participated in rehabilitation programs, and their risk of reoffending.

It was stated that convicts who do not show remorse or are considered unable to adapt to society will continue to serve their full sentences in prison.

While crimes such as simple assault, insult, and threat are among the crimes evaluated within the scope of simple trial procedures in the CMK, those convicted of these crimes will also be evaluated within the framework of the regulation.