Enhancing the Disciplinary and Reward Procedures for Prisoners in Türkiye

The Project on Enhancing the Disciplinary and Reward Procedures for Prisoners in Türkiye aimed to contribute to a safer society that provides full protection of the rights and dignity of persons deprived of their liberty. The main beneficiary was the Directorate General for Prisons and Detention Houses of the Ministry of Justice.

As such, the Project was expected to develop and ensure unified application of a standardised and efficient discipline and reward system that contributes to prisoners’ rehabilitation through numerous activities implemented under the following three components:

revising and strengthening the legislative framework governing the discipline and reward procedures for prisoners,
producing advanced tools to facilitate the unified application of discipline and rewards system in the country and,
enhancing the capacities of prison directors and staff, as well as other stakeholders involved in the execution of criminal sanctions, on the application of discipline and reward procedures.

The key standards in support to the actions undertaken with this Project were set in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and its case law, European Prison Rules as well as the standards and recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The project started on 01 November 2022 and ended on 31 October 2025, with an overall budget of 1.500.000 €. It was funded by the Council of Europe Human Rights Trust Fund, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Project documentation

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Training programme on discipline and rewards for prison staff in Türkiye is being developed

Nino LAPACHI

Modified 2 Years ago.

Council of Europe

Following the first working group (WG) meeting on training in November 2023, the second meeting was organised in Antalya on 26-27 February 2024 to draft the training programme for prison staff. The meeting brought together 20 specialists including representatives from the Directorate General for Prisons and Detention Houses, prison directors and staff, social workers, prison teachers and psychologists guided by two Council of Europe international consultants.

Throughout the discussions, several key issues were addressed on the specific training needs of prison staff at all levels. Good practices in the training of prison professionals, as well as specific recommendations for the Turkish prison system were presented by the consultants. After fruitful discussions and valuable contributions from the participants, a detailed outline of a training curriculum, including draft lessons plans, was approved. Training materials which will cover 4 modules on various aspects of the discipline and reward system, are to be developed in the following months according to the agreed outline.

This WG meeting was organised within the scope of the Project on "Enhancing the Disciplinary and Reward Procedures for Prisoners in Türkiye” co-funded by Norway, the Human Rights Trust Fund of the Council of Europe, Belgium, Türkiye, and the Netherlands.

Antalya, Türkiye 26-27 February 2024