24.12.2025 20:30
The 11th Judicial Package was approved in the General Assembly of the Parliament. During the discussions of the judicial package, an amendment was proposed to narrow the scope of the "COVID-19 regulation." Accordingly, homicides resulting from the destruction, collapse, or damage of buildings or other structures due to earthquakes will not benefit from the regulation. Here are the details...
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Assembly has approved and enacted the Law Proposal on Amendments to the Turkish Penal Code and Certain Laws, known to the public as the "11th Judicial Package."
50 THOUSAND INMATES WILL BE RELEASED
Article 27 of the package will open the way for the release of approximately 50 thousand inmates. The scope of the regulation, known to the public as the "COVID-19 regulation," which allows for earlier release from closed prisons to open prisons and from open prisons to supervised release, will be expanded. Those who committed crimes before July 31, 2023, will also be included in this regulation.
Inmates in closed penal institutions due to crimes committed on or before July 31, 2023, whose total prison sentence is less than 10 years will be able to spend 1 month in these institutions, and those with a sentence of 10 years or more will spend 3 months, and those who have 3 years or less remaining until their transfer to open penal institutions will be able to transfer to open penal institutions as of the date these conditions are met.
These inmates, along with those in open penal institutions due to crimes committed on or before July 31, 2023, will benefit from the implementation of the sentences under supervised release measures 3 years early, provided they have spent at least 3 months in an open penal institution. An adjustment regulation will also be made within the framework of the new regulation.
EARTHQUAKE CRIMES EXCLUDED
Crimes resulting in death due to the collapse, destruction, or damage of buildings or other structures caused by earthquakes will not benefit from the release regulation.
THOSE CONVICTED OF THESE CRIMES WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE RELEASE REGULATION
Additionally, those convicted of terrorism and organized crimes, intentional murder against descendants and ancestors, siblings, spouses, ex-spouses, women, children, and persons unable to defend themselves physically or mentally, as well as sexual assault and sexual abuse of children, will not benefit from the release regulation.
RELEASES WILL BEGIN WITH PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE
The approval of the 38 articles of the regulation in the General Assembly of the Parliament, followed by the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and publication in the Official Gazette, is expected to initiate the releases.