Is 'probation' being abolished? Minimum prison time is coming

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that comprehensive changes will be made to the probation system, as it is believed to cause a "perception of impunity" among the public.

He stated that in the new era, the concept of "supervised sentencing" will be introduced to more clearly express that convicts released from prison are still in the process of serving their sentences.

NEW REGULATION: MINIMUM PRISON TIME IS COMING

Tunç said that within the scope of the 10th Judicial Package, the practice of convicts being released without spending any time in prison will be prevented. Accordingly, it will be mandatory for convicts to spend at least 10 percent of the time remaining until their conditional release date in prison.

In this context:

A person sentenced to 2 years will stay in prison for at least 36 days,

A person sentenced to 1 year will stay in prison for at least 18 days.

Minister Tunç also drew attention to the change in terminology, asking, "After 20 years, what else can be brought in instead of probation? We have opened this up to the academic world and our professors. Could it be 'supervised sentencing'?" Tunç argued that this term could create a perception in society that the execution of the sentence is still ongoing, and that it could be a correct step to eliminate the perception of impunity.

HOME MONITORING SYSTEM ON THE AGENDA

It was also emphasized that with the new system, the supervised electronic monitoring system will be used more effectively in the implementation of home confinement for convicts. Tunç said, "We see punishment not only as the price of the past, but also as an opportunity for the future."

Stating that the probation system is not unique to Turkey, Tunç said that similar models are also applied in European countries.