Path to release for serious crimes in the 11th Judicial Package!

Because the 11th Judicial Package brought to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) does not impose any limitations regarding the nature of crimes for probation, serious crimes are also included in the regulation. Within the scope of the regulation, a 3-year early transfer opportunity to open prisons will be provided to convicts, thus making it possible for them to benefit from probation.

According to calculations, the release of 55 thousand convicts is expected initially, followed by a gradual release of 60 thousand. However, despite these releases, overcrowding in prisons continues significantly. Currently, there are a total of 428 thousand 267 people in 402 prisons with a capacity of 304 thousand 886. This indicates a capacity overflow of 123 thousand 381 people.

According to a report by Veli Toprak from Sözcü, it is stated that with the regulation included in the proposal, serious crimes such as “intentional homicide, sexual offenses, and drug trafficking’’ are also included in the scope. Conversely, it is stated that crimes within the scope of the Anti-Terror Law are excluded from the regulation. It is pointed out that the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious criminal offenses in the scope of release poses a risk to public safety.

New Way Group Chairman Bülent Kaya, in his criticism of the proposal, used the expression “The political institution creates new problems while solving existing ones’’. CHP Erzincan Deputy Mustafa Sarıgül stated, “The 11th Judicial Package did not meet expectations’’.

Istanbul Independent Deputy Mustafa Yeneroğlu also criticized the proposal with the words, “Crimes committed within the scope of the Anti-Terror Law are excluded. This situation will affect tens of thousands of people who are in prison for membership in a terrorist organization unfairly, even though they have no connection to terrorism.’’