Turkey cannot keep up with prison demand: 1.2 billion allocation set aside
The Ministry of Justice has allocated over 1.2 billion TL for prisons planned for construction in 11 cities in 2025, including Uşak, Bartın, Siirt, and Niğde. The total expenditure is expected to reach 23.5 billion TL upon the completion of the projects.
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Following the insufficiency of prison capacity, the Ministry of Justice has decided to accelerate new prison projects for 2025. Within the scope of the investment program prepared by the Ministry, new penal institutions will be built in a total of 11 cities. A resource of 1 billion 213 million 506 thousand TL will be allocated from the 2025 budget for these facilities to be built in various provinces, primarily Siirt, Uşak, Bartın, and Niğde. A significant portion of this allocation, 500 million TL, will be used for the penal institution in Siirt.
It was also stated that a 2,500-square-meter Probation Service Building has been included in the projects within the investment plan. While the construction is targeted to be completed by 2027, it is estimated that the total budget will rise to the level of 23 billion 585 million TL during this process.
These projects, which will begin as of 2025, are expected to contribute significantly to the prison capacity in the country.
PRISON POPULATION AT RECORD LEVELS
The number of people staying in prisons in Turkey is increasing every year. The fact that capacities remain insufficient to meet the number of inmates has revealed the necessity for new investments. As of January 2, 2025, the total number of people in prisons reached a historic peak of 384 thousand 216.
Looking at the detailed data, it is seen that 328 thousand 708 people are convicts, while 49 thousand 596 people are in the status of detainees. The number of men staying in prisons is 363 thousand 708, while the number of women is 16 thousand 770, and the number of children is 3 thousand 778. The number of inmates held in open prison status has reached 85 thousand 334, while the number of those staying in closed penal institutions has reached 298 thousand 682.
According to the official statistics of the Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, as of January 1, 2025, a total of 405 penal institutions are in operation across Turkey, including 273 closed, 99 open, 12 women's closed, 8 women's open, 9 children's closed, and 4 children's education centers. There is currently a total capacity of 301 thousand 397 people in these institutions.
Following the new investments to be made, it is aimed to both increase prison capacity to reduce overcrowding and to improve the conditions of the inmates.