What is Remorse?
Remorse means that if a person who commits a crime feels sorry for the crime he/she committed and accepts his/her guilt and reports it to the authorities, his/her sentence will be reduced or he/she will be excused from the sentence. The Turkish Penal Code has provisions for remorse for some crimes.
Remorse in Possession of Drugs
Remorse in the crime of possession of drugs is assessed if the person surrenders the drugs he/she possesses to the authorities before or after being caught and confesses his/her crime.
Conditions of Remorse
In order to benefit from the provisions of remorse in the crime of possession of drugs, certain conditions must be met:
• Admission of Crime: The person openly accepts the crime he/she committed and states that he/she is sorry.
• Delivery of Drugs: The person surrenders the drugs he/she possesses to the authorities.
• Duration: The remorse petition must be submitted within a certain period of time from the date the crime was committed.
• Other Conditions: Other conditions specified in the law must also be met.
Consequences of Repentance
The following reductions may be applied to individuals who benefit from repentance provisions:
• Sentence Reduction: Significant reduction in the sentence to be given.
• No Decision on Life Sentence: A lighter sentence is given instead of life imprisonment.
• Implementation of Security Measures Instead of Sentence: Security measures are applied instead of imprisonment.
How Much is the Repentance Discount?
The amount of the repentance discount is determined according to various factors such as the nature of the crime, the personal status of the offender, and the period during which the repentance petition is submitted. Therefore, a different reduction rate may be applied in each case.
Who Can Benefit from Repentance Provisions?
Anyone who is tried for the crime of possession of narcotic substances can benefit from the repentance provisions if they meet the conditions specified above. However, the repentance requests of individuals who have a previous criminal record for drug crimes are evaluated more strictly by the judge.
