Türkiye’s 10th Justice Package is a 30-article bill proposing amendments to various laws, including the Law on the Execution of Criminal Sentences and Security Measures. It was submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on 29 May 2025. Prepared within the framework of the Justice Reform Strategy Document for the Century of Türkiye, the bill aims to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, reorganize enforcement practices, and strengthen deterrence. The bill was adopted by the TBMM Justice Commission on 1 June 2025.
Preparation Process and Strategic Background
The Justice Package was publicly announced by Abdullah Güler, Deputy Chair of the AK Party Group, and submitted to the TBMM Presidency with the signatures of AK Party members of parliament. During the preparation process, consultations were held with bureaucrats from the Ministry of Justice as well as representatives of judges, prosecutors, bar associations, academics, and civil society organizations. The package is based on the objectives and targets of the Justice Reform Strategy Document covering the 2025–2029 period, aiming to establish a non-delayed, predictable, restorative, and reparative justice system while enhancing the deterrent effect of the criminal justice system.
Key Areas of Reform Proposed in the Bill
The bill submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye under the Justice Package proposes legislative amendments across numerous areas, ranging from criminal law to the enforcement regime, child justice, and the notarial discipline system. It includes provisions on definitions of offenses, sentencing levels, and enforcement practices affecting the operation of the criminal justice system. Additionally, it incorporates technical and institutional adjustments to align with rulings of the Constitutional Court. The following sections outline these reforms under major headings.
Reforms in Criminal Law
Attempted Offenses and Intentional Bodily Harm
Among the proposed amendments to the Turkish Criminal Code are revisions to the provisions on attempted offenses. The minimum sentence for fixed-term imprisonment in lieu of aggravated life imprisonment is to be increased from 13 to 14 years, and the maximum from 20 to 21 years. The minimum sentence for fixed-term imprisonment in lieu of life imprisonment is to be raised from 9 to 10 years, and the maximum from 15 to 18 years.
Regarding the offense of intentional bodily harm, the minimum sentence is increased from one year to one year and six months. For injuries that can be treated by simple medical intervention, the penalty range is raised from four months to one year to six months to one year and six months. In cases of intentional bodily harm committed against women, the minimum sentence is increased from six months to nine months. Consequently, minimum sentences for aggravated forms of bodily harm are also increased. When intentional bodily harm results in death, the imprisonment range is raised from eight to twelve years to ten to fourteen years. In cases involving bone fracture and death, the minimum sentence is raised from twelve to fourteen years.
Threat Offense
For threats involving serious damage to property or other harmful acts, the minimum prison sentence is proposed to be set at two months. When threats are carried out with a weapon, by disguising the identity of the perpetrator, through unsigned letters, or by using special signals; when committed by multiple individuals; or when exploiting the intimidating power of criminal organizations, the maximum penalty is proposed to be increased from five to seven years.
Public Security and Use of Firearms
Acts involving the discharge of firearms or use of explosives, including weapons known as “dry gas” or “sound and gas cartridges,” are to be classified under the offense of “intentional endangerment of public safety.” When such offenses are committed in public areas, the penalties are to be increased by half.
Reforms Related to Traffic Safety
The Justice Package proposes increased penalties for actions that endanger traffic safety. The minimum penalty for persons who operate road, sea, air, or rail vehicles in a manner that endangers life, health, or property is to be raised from three to four months. The minimum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics is proposed to be set at six months.
Acts involving the theft or obstruction of vehicles are to be classified as separate offenses. For road vehicles, the proposed imprisonment range is one to three years; for maritime and rail vehicles, two to five years; and for aircraft, five to ten years.
Enforcement Regime and Supervised Release Reforms
Conditional Release and Recidivism
The bill proposes new conditions regarding the time to be served in correctional facilities. Inmates in open correctional facilities or juvenile education centers who are within one year or less of their conditional release date must now serve at least one-tenth of their total sentence in a correctional facility to qualify for supervised release.
For inmates subject to recidivism provisions for a second time, the rate of eligibility for conditional release in fixed-term imprisonment cases is set at three-quarters. For aggravated life imprisonment, the required time served is 39 years; for life imprisonment, 33 years; for multiple fixed-term sentences combined, 32 years; and for fixed-term sentences, conditional release is permitted provided that two-thirds of the sentence is served in a correctional facility.
Special Enforcement Methods
The scope of special enforcement methods such as weekend or nighttime incarceration is expanded. Inmates sentenced to a total of three years or less for intentional offenses, or five years or less for negligent offenses (excluding negligent homicide), may be subject to enforcement based on periodic entry and exit from correctional facilities during specified time periods. This method may also be applied during weekdays, taking into account the inmate’s employment and prison discipline.
Under the proposal for home-based enforcement, new provisions are introduced for female, juvenile, and elderly inmates. For women, children, and persons aged 65 or older, the maximum sentence eligible for home enforcement is set at three years; for those aged 70 or older, four years; for those aged 75 or older, five years; and for those aged 80 or older, six years. Sentences below these thresholds may be enforced at home.
Additionally, judges responsible for enforcement may order home-based enforcement for inmates sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment (excluding aggravated life imprisonment) who are determined to be unable to sustain life under prison conditions due to illness or disability. The health status of such individuals will be assessed at regular intervals. Inmates with a total sentence exceeding ten years will be required to be monitored using electronic ankle bracelets.
Reforms Concerning Juvenile Inmates
The definition of juvenile closed correctional facilities is revised to allow for the detention of juvenile inmates within these institutions. Decisions on transferring juvenile inmates to juvenile education centers will be made based on positive behavior assessments. Children who lose their right to reside in education centers may be transferred to juvenile closed correctional facilities.
Juveniles sentenced to three years or less for intentional offenses or five years or less for negligent offenses will serve their sentences directly in juvenile education centers. The review period for juveniles with negative behavior in correctional facilities is capped at a maximum of six months.
Notarial and Disciplinary Law
Amendments to the Notary Law redefine the principles for applying disciplinary penalties. Specific disciplinary sanctions are clearly defined for various violations of professional ethics by notaries. The statute of limitations for disciplinary actions is set at three years from the date the act was discovered and five years from the date the act was committed. If a criminal investigation has been initiated, the time limits specified in criminal law will apply.
Reforms Related to Internet Publishing
Comprehensive amendments are proposed to the Law on the Regulation of Publications on the Internet to comply with rulings of the Constitutional Court. The phrase “removal from publication” is changed to “removal from the internet,” and courts of peace may now order the removal of content or blocking of access in cases of violations of personality rights.
In cases where the violation is immediately apparent, content may be removed within 24 hours, and a decision may be issued not to link the complainant’s name to the content. If social media providers fail to implement such decisions, internet bandwidth may be reduced by up to 50 percent, and subsequently by up to 90 percent. Judicial monetary fines are proposed for access providers who fail to comply with such orders.
Reforms Concerning Judicial Institutions
Amendments to the Law on the Council of Judges and Prosecutors ensure that members whose terms have expired may return directly to their previous positions. Additionally, it is mandated that selection and appointment procedures be completed within 30 days, during which time members are considered to be on leave and continue to enjoy their personal rights.
Changes have also been made to the provisions concerning employment contracts in the Law on Private International Law and Procedural Law. The law now allows for the application of the law most closely connected to the contract, instead of the law chosen by the parties. In the Code of Civil Procedure, the rules on proof by document and the prohibition of proof by witness, as well as the monetary limits for appeal, are determined according to the date on which the legal act was performed and the lawsuit was filed.
