Prisons and prisoners in the penitentiary system of the Republican Period (1923-1950)

Modern prisons as we know them today first appeared in Western Europe and North America. Almost all of them as a new penalty style that aims not only punish guilty ones but also discipline them began to be established and spread two hundred and fifty years ago. Under the influence of the westernization movement, the Ottoman Empire tried to create an organisation of prisons which are suitable for changing penalty system and transform the old prisons (mahbes) into new ones where improve the current penal conditions since the nineteenth century. However, the political and financial instability environment caused frequent interruption and postpone that change from time to time. With this, the reform program for prisons was continued by being handled from the very beginning in the next period when the Republican cadres got involved. The Turkish Penal Code, which entered in force in 1926, determined prison sentences and their enforcement procedures. The central and provincial organization of the prisons was taken from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and transferred to the Ministry of Justice in 1929. In addition, laws and regulations were enacted that clarified the functioning of prisons. All these administrative and legal regulations were followed by construction activities, many of which accelerated after the 10th year of the Republic. 41 prisons were built between 1930 and 1950, hundreds of them were repaired. Since the budgetary possibilities did not allow for more, the building stock inherited from the Ottoman Empire continued to be used compulsorily. This situation made it difficult to implement the Gradual Freedom System (Tedricî Serbesti Sistemi), which was put into practice in 1936. The community-based form of enforcement, called ward confinement, remained in existence and valid with its structure that prevented the inmates from being disciplined, employed and educated.