KT Guards Association Issues Statement on Parole Amendment Regulation
Title: Turkish Cypriot Prisoners’ Union Raises Concerns Over Parole Amendment Regulation
The Turkish Cypriot Prisoners’ Union recently expressed their dissatisfaction with recent changes in the parole periods, claiming that the amendments were politically motivated and caused public discomfort. The union argued that these changes went beyond their intended purpose and had no significant impact on the overcrowding issue in prisons.
Asım Kamacı, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Guards Union, released a statement addressing the parole amendment regulation. He stated that it was necessary to inform the public about the recent developments and highlighted that the parole board was implemented to alleviate the overcrowding problem in prisons, following the example of other developed countries.
Kamacı underlined the importance of parole as a form of execution that does not contradict the principles of criminal law, does not harm the conviction, and brings benefits for both society and the offenders. In previous years, parole had shown positive effects on prisons compared to when it was not implemented.
However, concerns have been raised by various segments of society regarding the implementation of conditional release from time to time. Kamacı emphasized that the fundamental requirement for parole should be the convict’s good behavior during their time in prison. He emphasized the need for the parole board to be free from political pressure and suggested establishing internal observation boards to ensure fairness. Clear and explicit guidelines for defining good behavior should also be established.
The parole 1/3 amendment regulation, which recently came into discussion, saw reductions in parole periods in 2021, citing the pandemic. This change was made during the tenure of former Minister of Internal Affairs, Kutlu Evren. Since then, the statute has been amended five times for 90 days each time. However, the recent amendments appear to have been influenced by political considerations, straying from their original purpose.
According to the statement, the regulation covering 1/3 of the period failed to achieve the desired number of releases and had no significant impact on prison overcrowding.
The Turkish Cypriot Prisoners’ Union calls for a review of the parole amendment regulation and urges the authorities to address the concerns raised by the public and various organizations. They believe that reforming the parole system in a fair and transparent manner will ultimately benefit both society and the incarcerated individuals.
