The Turkish government is preparing a new sentence reform bill that could lead to the release of up to 60,000 inmates, as pressure mounts to ease severe overcrowding in the country’s prison system ahead of parliament’s summer recess, the Ekonomim news website reported.
The draft legislation, expected to be finalized in parliament this week, aims to expand eligibility to be released under judicial supervision, particularly for individuals sentenced to five years or less. Those who committed crimes prior to July 31, 2023, but whose sentences have not yet been finalized would also be eligible under the new law.
The measure is being introduced separately from the broader 10th Judicial Reform Package and is expected to contain 20 to 25 articles. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials plan to seek input from opposition parties before pushing the bill through the legislature.
According to sources familiar with the draft, the reform would also alter sentencing rules for repeat offenders, allowing conditional release after serving three-quarters of their sentence instead of the full term. Provisions for house arrest are also expected for incarcerated mothers with young children and seriously ill inmates who cannot survive under current prison conditions.
The new bill is seen as a response to the mounting pressure caused by overcrowding in Turkish prisons. As of March the Ministry of Justice reported that the country’s 395 correctional facilities were housing 398,694 inmates, nearly 99,000 over their combined capacity of 299,940, yielding an occupancy rate of 133.9 percent. Between January and March alone, the prison population grew by more than 14,000, despite the closure of 10 small facilities.
Human rights groups have long criticized Turkey for the treatment of sick and aging inmates, many of whom are imprisoned under counterterrorism laws for alleged political dissent or ties to banned groups. The latest surge in inmate numbers has been partly fueled by ongoing crackdowns, including arrests related to protests over the imprisonment of İstanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the continued persecution of people affiliated with the faith-based Gülen movement.
The Gülen movement, accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a failed coup in July 2016, has been subjected to a relentless crackdown that still continues today. The movement strongly denies any involvement in the abortive putsch.
The Turkish government claims that the new legislation is a step to address the prison crisis. However, critics say that without comprehensive reform, particularly of the country’s sweeping counterterrorism laws and restrictions on political expression, the bill may serve only as a temporary fix.
The government hopes to pass the bill before parliament adjourns for its summer break. If not, further judicial reforms may be postponed until October.