The increase in the drug law offences (DLOs) in recent years as well as the rising population of convicts/detainees charged with DLOs in penal institutions have placed significant pressure on the judiciary and execution system in the fight against drug addiction. Furthermore, a recent assessment among 20,861 prisoners under the “Technical Assistance for Improvement of Enforcement Services in Prisons” (DEPAR) project funded by European Union also revealed that 41.1% of them used drugs, which calls for further increasing the institutional capacity of the stakeholders in the judiciary and execution system in this field.

There have been important improvements in this area through the key strategic documents and central structures specifically established for fighting drug addiction and supporting the re-integration of convicts/detainees into society. The amendments on Article 191 of the Turkish Penal Code are a clear demonstration of the prioritisation of the treatment and supervision of drug law offenders through probation over their imprisonment.

Within the light of these developments, it is important to support the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), particularly the Directorate General for Prisons and Detention Houses (GDPDH), as the lead institution in overseeing the reform of the justice sector as a whole. In supporting the GDPDH and MoJ as well as many other stakeholders working in the fight against drug addiction, it is vital to focus on the outstanding the needs in the field.

The outstanding needs and challenges in the fight against drug addiction necessitate a more coordinated approach through cross-sectoral and inter-institutional cooperation. It is important to support the judiciary system, particularly judges and prosecutors who have important responsibilities in the full and effective application of the legal and regulatory framework. Enhancing the know-how and skills of personnel that work with convicts/detainees and probationers with a history and also a risk of drug addiction is crucial to improve the delivery of services with contemporary approaches responding to the current needs. Establishing a supportive environment for addicted offenders within the probation system along with their families, as well as addicted convicts and detainees in penal institutions is essential. This necessitates the active involvement of families and social circles and improvement of the working environment for prison and probation personnel. In addition, it is indispensable to establish a comprehensive system that facilitates updated risk assessment and design, delivery, and monitoring of intervention programmes with actuarial assessments in prison and probation settings in a complementary manner. Such a comprehensive system also assesses the improvements in offenders’ efforts of rehabilitation and facilitates their integration into society.

The EU-funded “Technical Assistance for Strengthening Institutional Capacity of the Judiciary and Execution System for the Fight against Addiction”, known as BAŞARI Project significantly contributes to providing effective improved solutions to the identified outstanding needs and challenges, while offering multi-disciplinary and sustainable mechanisms empowering inter-institutional cooperation in the fight against drug addiction. It brings together stakeholders from the judiciary and execution system, as well as from health and labour sector and NGOs, and includes robust institution building and capacity development programmes for the personnel in probation and prison settings as well as for the judiciary. For addicted convicts and detainees in penal institutions as well as probationers and their families, the project will foster a supportive environment empowered with improved risk assessment and intervention programmes. In this way, it touches upon the majority of problems faced within this area in the field.

Please click for detailed information about Republic of Turkey Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, as Beneficiary Institution of BAŞARI Project.  https://cte.adalet.gov.tr/

Please click for detailed information about Republic of Turkey Ministry Of Treasury And Finance Central Finance And Contracts Unit, as Contracting Authority of BAŞARI Project. https://www.cfcu.gov.tr/

Please click for detailed information about Delegation of the European Union to Turkey https://www.avrupa.info.tr/en

Please click for detailed information about, WEglobal Türkiye, as Contractor Company of BAŞARI Project. https://weglobal.org/