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Türkiye’s latest judicial reform package, which paves the way for the conditional release of approximately 19,800 prisoners, officially entered into force on Wednesday.
Published in the Official Gazette, the reform introduces significant amendments to the Penal Execution Law, expanding eligibility for conditional release. Inmates with multiple sentences for repeated offenses are now eligible for this provision, which was previously unavailable to them.
As of February 2025, Türkiye’s total prison population stood at 392,456.
The new legislation also broadens the scope of home confinement, allowing sentences to be served under supervised release for certain vulnerable categories. Individuals who are seriously ill or disabled and deemed not to pose a significant public threat may serve their sentences at home.
Women who have given birth more than 6 months prior and are serving sentences of 5 years or less may also be eligible for home confinement, subject to approval by an execution judge.
The reform increases the minimum prison terms for specific crimes. The lower limit for intentional assault has been raised from 1 year to 1.5 years. Similarly, the minimum sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been increased from 3 months to 6 months.
In addition, individuals sentenced to less than 2 years in prison will now be required to serve at least 5 days in jail, ending earlier exemptions for short-term sentences.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated on X that the reform is part of the government’s broader strategy to improve judicial efficiency. He noted that the new measures align with the objectives outlined in the Judicial Reform Strategy Document, which seeks to reinforce the rule of law and ensure a timely and predictable justice system.
“We will continue to advance our goals step by step, guided by a vision of justice that upholds the rule of law and avoids delays,” Tunc said.
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