ANKARA - The occupancy rate in prisons increased by 14 thousand 478 people in the last three months of the year. The number of people in prisons, whose capacities were 299 thousand 940, reached 398 thousand 694 with the latest increases. With this number, the current capacity of prisons was exceeded by 98 thousand 754 persons.

 

According to March data, the occupancy rate of 395 prisons in Turkey reached 398 thousand 694 thousand people. With this occupancy rate in prisons, whose official capacities were announced by the Ministry of Justice as 299 thousand 940 people, it is seen that their capacities were exceeded by 133,93. It is noteworthy that the occupancy rate of prisons, which exceeded 98 thousand 754 people, increased with the arrests made due to the operations against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

 

NUMBER OF PRISONS DECREASED, NUMBER OF PRISONERS INCREASED

 

According to the data of the Ministry of Justice, while there were 384 thousand 216 inmates in 405 prisons before the closure of 10 prisons as of 1 January, this number increased by 8 thousand 240 in February and reached 392 thousand 456. In March, although the number of prisons decreased by 10, the number of prisoners and convicts increased by 14 thousand 478 people compared to January. While the data for April has not yet been announced by the Ministry of Justice, it is expected that the prison occupancy rate in April will increase compared to the previous month.

 

The capacity increase in prisons has been continuing since the early 2000s. It is observed that the number of detainees and convicts in prisons increased 8 times, reaching 49 thousand 512 in 2000, 266 thousand 831 in 2020, 341 thousand 497 in 2022, and 398 thousand 694 in 2025.

 

PRISON EXPENSES INCREASED BY 30 PERCENT

 

According to the Ministry of Justice's 2025 data, the number of personnel working in prisons will be 63 thousand 214, while the budget allocation for the expenses of these prisons in 2025 is 18.5 billion liras. This figure corresponds to a 30 percent increase compared to 14.2 billion liras in 2024.

 

23.5 BILLION TL BUDGET FOR 11 NEW PRISONS

 

While rights organisations argue that the capacity problem leading to violations is the result of the authoritarianism developed by limiting freedom of thought and expression and subjecting them to prosecution processes, and that democratic steps to be taken will solve the problem, the government is trying to solve the problem by building 11 new prisons.  The Ministry of Justice has allocated 1.2 billion TL from the 2025 budget for the 11 prisons, which are expected to cost 23.5 billion TL in total and are planned to be completed in 2027.

 

MA / Fırat Can Arslan