In our legal system, execution of a sentence does not mean that the entire prison sentence given by the court is spent in prison. According to execution law, the sentence period can be reduced under certain conditions and practices such as supervised release can be put into effect. So, how many years does a person sentenced to 15 years stay in prison? The answer to this question depends on various factors such as the nature of the sentence, the execution law and the condition of the prisoner.
1. How Does the Turkish Penal System Work?
The penal system requires that prisoners serve their sentences in prison, not in full, but in certain proportions. In Turkish law, the execution of a prison sentence is determined in the following ways:
Conditional Release (Parole): After serving a certain percentage of their sentence in prison, the prisoner can be released if they behave well.
Supervised Release: A prisoner who has spent a certain period in prison can complete the remaining time under supervision outside.
2. How Many Years Does a Person Who Receives 15 Years Serve?
a) General Execution Rate
According to the Turkish Penal Code, with the amendment made on March 30, 2020, the penalty execution rates have been determined as 50% for some crimes, 67% for some crimes and 75% for more serious crimes. As a general rule, prisoners convicted of crimes committed intentionally must serve half of their sentence in prison.
If a person sentenced to 15 years in prison serves 50% of their sentence according to the general execution rules: 7 years and 6 months in prison.
When the probation period (1 year) is deducted: 6 years and 6 months in prison.
b) Execution Period According to Crime Type
Different execution rates are applied for some crimes:
Simple crimes: 50% execution rate is applied (The calculation above is valid).
Terrorism, sexual crimes, drug trafficking, intentional killing: 67% execution rate is applied. A person sentenced to 15 years will remain in prison for 10 years. When the probation period is deducted, the person will remain in prison for approximately 9 years.
Serious crimes (crimes requiring aggravated life imprisonment): 75% execution rate is applied. A person sentenced to 15 years will remain in prison for 11 years and 3 months.
3. Probation Application
Probation allows prisoners to spend the remaining time outside after serving a certain period in prison. Generally, they can spend the last year of their sentence outside prison under probation.
4. Good Conduct and Release Process
If the prisoner is in good conduct in prison, the conditional release period may be applied earlier. However, this period may be extended for prisoners who violate prison discipline.
5. Sample Calculations
Sentence Length Execution Rate Prison Time Probation Total Time Served
15 Years 50% 7 years 6 months 1 year 6 years 6 months
15 Years 67% 10 years 1 year 9 years
15 Years 75% 11 years 3 months 1 year 10 years 3 months
A person sentenced to 15 years in prison can spend approximately 6 years 6 months to 10 years 3 months in prison, depending on the type of crime they committed. Factors such as conditional release, probation, and good behavior can affect this period. It is important to consult an expert criminal attorney for more detailed information about legal processes.
