Perspective Chapter: Rehabilitation Programs in Penitentiary Institutions – The Case of Turkey

Abstract

From past to present, different solutions have been brought to the problem of crime and punishment of criminals in different periods. At first, it was applied in the form of paying the penalty for the crime, paying a fine and paying a diet. Today, modernized programs are implemented in which convicts and detainees are not only imprisoned, but also by using individualized programs compatible with their personalities, making rehabilitation works and reintegrating these individuals into society as a priority. Beginning in 2015, pilot studies supported by the EU have been carried out in Turkey. The projects in which BISIS (Individual Risk and Needs Analysis) and DEPAR (Assessment, Profile Tools and Rehabilitation Programs) programs ensure that the convict’s history, reason for guilt, criminal record, physical ability or problem, mental structure, personality, possible harm or damage, duration of sentence, crime risk index, and his expectation after release are determined upon admission to the penitentiary institution. The results of BISIS provide both a clue for the security unit in the institution and information about the societal risks of the perpetrators. This information has been discussed in parallel with the literature in order to further develop the improvement studies and gain a universal dimension.

1. Introduction

Social norms are upheld by the rules of social order, with moral definitions determining what is right and wrong, and the laws of society determining what is legal and illegal. Families pass down many of these social rules, including moral guidelines, to their children. When a child misbehaves, parents may use sanctions such as getting angry, scolding, or taking away privileges to correct the behavior. The purpose of these sanctions is to teach children the consequences of their actions and to deter them from repeating the behavior. This type of discipline begins in childhood and continues into adulthood, with social institutions taking over the role of sanctioning. If the behavior is criminal, it is regulated by relevant laws, and penal sanctions are applied. These criminal sanctions aim to manage and reduce criminal behavior. Does criminal behavior disappear with the deprivation of freedom? Incarceration or torture right method for punishment? Concerning the criminal sanction, Foucault stated that while at first it was physically abusive and damaging, over time these sanctions turned into the imprisonment and rehabilitation of the perpetrators [1]. Otherwise, penitentiary institutions might become crime schools for prisoners who are affected by each other as a result of network challenges. The prisoner might have learned new criminal skills from other criminals in prison. As s/he continued his/her relations with them even after s/he was released from prison [2].

Giddens stated prisoners whose ties with the environment outside the prison were severed, economically weakened individuals put the power of authority in an intense way so the negative conditions here, cause them to take a more aggressive attitude towards society. Another negative effect of being in prison is developing a sense of reluctance and irresponsibility. Certain timetable occurs in an order and at predetermined times, the programming of lawyer-family visit, meals, sleeping, having a rest, doing exercises, and other activities blunts the sense of responsibility. This is a situation that prevents rehabilitation in individuals [3].

In Turkey, policies and practices related to the execution of sentences have been reformed. These reforms have resulted in the provision of numerous sports, entertainment, and artistic activities, vocational and career information courses, and vocational training courses. All these activities are aimed at ensuring the psychosocial and physical development of convicts. Also, reform packages change the current law (5275) getting better with additions and subtractions in the law through all stages of the penal process. So not only education, social activity, or work inside prison but also it is necessary to make them think about crime through rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism.

2. Crime and punishment

The existence of crime has emerged with the existence of humanity. Society tends to punish the individual who acts against its order and acts to destroy the rights of another/a group [4].

The first examples of written legal rules are seen in the Sumerians. Sumerian King Urkagina, who stated that the sovereignty was given to him by the supreme god, prepared a justice order to eliminate the corruption, unrest, and discontent of the people due to bad administration. Urkagina stated in his laws that the previous rulers combined with the priests and exploited the people. With the arrangements he made, he mostly dealt with issues such as debt amnesty and tried to comfort the people.

In the Roman period, for the first time in human history, criminal law appeared as a system. It was accepted in this period that reconciliation was the general rule and that if no compromise could be reached, retaliation would be resorted to. Especially in the imperial period, the types of crime and punishment began to become clear and a certain method of reasoning emerged. In this period, the authority, mostly the government has become the only authority that has a say in determining what the crime is and what sanctions should be applied to the actions within these limits.

Contemporary forms of sanctions are imprisonment, probation, and parole imprisonment, putting the offender in prison for the purpose of protecting the public against criminal activities and at the same time rehabilitating the prisoners by requiring them to undergo institutional treatment programs. Probation is one of these programs. The convict who has committed a crime whose sentence does not exceed 6 years is released into social life under the supervision of the probation officer.

Another modern form of sanction is Parole. Probation and parole are different concepts. Probation is part of the convict’s first sentence. The decision on probation is made by the judge during the trial. Parole develops long after the execution. As long as the convict remains in the penitentiary, the decision to behave well, adapt to social life without problems, and complete the rest of his sentence in social life outside the penitentiary is called conditional release. There may be punishments arising from cultural differences in different geographies, and different penal systems have emerged at different times.

The definition of crime differs in history or in sociological, legal, political, or psychological ways. As Durkheim defines crime as the necessary fact that all individuals have feelings that cause unpleasant situations and also crime is in society’s transition from a static state to a dynamic state. According to Criminal Law, a crime is “an act punished by the law” [5, 6].

Punishment is a sanction made by law and also determined by a legal decision and responsibility ratio applied to those who behave that society does not approve of or as a result of damaging acts to the society [7]. Punishment must be a deterrent for individuals. Other important aspects of punishment are low cost, individuality, and equivalence among those with similar crimes. In the past, punishment was perceived as making the criminal pay for it but today, it is considered as reintegrating the criminal into society.

2.1 From the court house to the prison

The process of punishing a crime starts when there is a suspicion that a crime has been committed and continues until this suspicion is confirmed. This process involves three basic activities: claim, defense, and trial. According to the law, the period between the suspicion of crime by competent authorities and the acceptance of the indictment is called the investigation phase. The phase between the acceptance of the indictment and the finalization of the verdict is known as the proceeding phase. During the investigation phase, investigative authorities gather evidence related to the crime and the perpetrators. A public prosecutor investigates when there is suspicion that a crime has been committed and decides whether there is enough evidence for public action. If there is sufficient evidence, the prosecutor prepares an indictment. The public prosecutor issues an indictment if the evidence collected at the end of the investigation phase creates enough suspicion that the crime has been committed. With the acceptance of the indictment by the court, a public lawsuit is filed. The prosecutor’s office may change its opinion and request the accused be acquitted by the court during the prosecution phase, which starts after the indictment is accepted and brought before the court. During the prosecution phase, the preparation for the main hearing is done first, followed by the main hearing stage. At the hearing, all the evidence is presented, and prosecution and defense authorities are heard. The accused has the final word, and the hearing concludes with the verdict being established. If there is a strong suspicion of guilt, the judge can initiate detention. If the defendant is found guilty and sentenced to prison, he is sent to a penitentiary institution.

3. Penitentiary institutions in Turkey

Prison and work-based modern penitentiary institutions in Turkey have a history of 170 years. The transition process from cellars, which are dungeon-like places where convicts and detainees are closed, to nineteenth-century-invention prisons, which aim to improve prisoners, started in the Ottoman Empire in 1851 in parallel with the enactment of the first modern penal law. The “rehabilitation of Ottoman prisoners”, which gained an international dimension with an article in the Reform Edict announced in 1856, brought with it the idea of building various prisons, which would differ according to crime and punishment, in 1858. With the Penal Code, which came into force in the same year and took its final form after the French penal code of 1810 was adapted to local conditions by Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, the transition from physical punishment to imprisonment became official. In this context, Zabtiye prison, which started its activities as a police detention center in Istanbul in 1846, but turned into a prison, was opened in addition to other prisons in the city. Prisons, the first of which were opened in Yanya (now in Greece), and work-based regional rowing centers where heavy penal convicts were kept began to gradually replace the old cellars. The general prison, which was opened in Istanbul (Turkey) Sultan Ahmet Square at the beginning of 1871 after the closure of the famous Shipyard Dungeon, is the first ward-based model prison in the history of penal executions in Turkey.

During World War II, these reform efforts continued and the Regulation on Prisons and Detention Houses was enacted in 1941, and the Law on the Organization of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses (C.T.E.) in 1943. In addition, in order to implement the gradual penal execution system, work-based open agriculture prisons were built in Dalaman in 1945 and in Edirne in 1948 and put into use. II. During the mobilization years of World War II, the labor gap created by the shift of the male population from civilian production to the army was tried to be partially filled with prisoner labor.

In the 1950s, concepts such as regional prison, E-type prison, block-type prison, and juvenile prison entered the agenda of the CTE General Directorate for the first time in these years.

At the end of the 1990s, the state authority in penitentiary institutions gradually decreased and developed establishment and administration of the penitentiary institutions and workshops institutions until 2005. Besides in the 2000s high-security penitentiary institutions that became operational and new rooms based on a room system instead of wards have taken their place in the history of penal executions in Turkey [8].

Prison now is called Penitentiary (Penal) Institutions which is public service which of social needs meets by the government. So all activities that the government undertakes to meet the common needs of society have the quality to be public service and therefore all administrative practices and actions constitute the subject of the administrative law.

The penal institutions are under the administration of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in Turkey. The penitentiary Institution is responsible for meeting all the essential requirements of inmates, including health, social well-being, and accommodation. These institutions are under the jurisdiction of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses (CTE in Turkish), as are public prosecutors’ offices.

Based on the modern sanction concept, again, convicts are offered employment to acquire individual and professional skills in order to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society. According to Law No. 5275 in Turkey, prisoners who want to learn a profession and work are employed with a certain salary and social rights.

3.1 Classification of penal institutions

Penitentiary institutions have undergone significant changes since the 2000s, due to a better understanding of modern sanction systems. All the institutions are new buildings. This transformation is evident in the architecture of prisons, which now feature spacious designs that accommodate high-capacity campus-type facilities complete with hospitals, mosques, and courtrooms. These facilities are located outside of cities and are purposefully isolated from families, lawyers, and other city-related social interactions. Even high-security institutions have been transformed into self-sufficient facilities that meet all vital needs.

Penal Institutions in Turkey do not have a single model and are classified according to various characteristics. Management styles, security levels, and architectural features are the most important criteria in these classifications.

3.1.1 Management

3.1.1.1 Prisons with a directorate organization

In such institutions, the title of 1st Manager is the director of the institution, and the 2nd manager as much as the number of needs according to the size of the institution. In addition, there are teachers for education; psychologists, social workers for psychosocial service; doctors and nurses for health services, and workshop chiefs in relation to the productions made for profit in the institution. There are units such as the workplace service where the staff work.

3.1.1.2 Prisons without a directorate organization

In these institutions, only execution guards are on duty. When compared to prisons, it is seen that many services are not available as it is small.

3.1.2 Prison by security levels

3.1.2.1 Open penal institutions

The main purpose of these institutions is the rehabilitation of convicts through range of workshops in the institution to focus on production. The biggest difference between closed institutions is that it is not surrounded by high walls and is not protected by the gendarmerie.

The convict, can go out of the institution by getting permission each month after spending 3 months in institution. One of its advantages is that it is easier to communicate with the outside world via the phone booth in the institution.

3.1.2.2 Closed prisons (A- B- C- E- L- T- type)

These institutions are prohibited from both outside and inside. Electronics, food and beverages, liquid and dangerous substances (such as sharps, drugs, sim cards, cables, mobile phones, etc.) means of communication not allowed even for execution guards. Security is under control by using mechanical, electronic, and physical barriers.

In these institutions, the prisoner’s visitors are allowed within the framework of the legislation.

The meeting with the prisoner takes place under strict rules. The doors of the rooms and wards where he stays are constantly closed as a medium level of security is applied in these institutions.

3.1.2.2.1 High-security prisons: (D- F- S: High-security type)

In these institutions, rooms are for 1 to 3 people. It has been designed to any activity or mobility within the institution is carried out with the highest security. The majority of inmates in these institutions are terror offenders sentenced to aggravated life sentences, organized crime called gang organization, drug production, and murder-like crimes. Same security procedure as a closed prison but execution guards are more strict about rules [9].

3.1.3 Prisons by demographic characteristics of prisoners

3.1.3.1 Women’s closed penitentiary institutions

External security in such institutions is provided by the gendarmerie in institutions, internal security is performed by female staff. As the name suggests, this prison sentences of female prisoners are executed in institutions. There are children of convicted and imprisoned women, if any, between the ages of 0–6 are also can stay together with their mothers.

3.1.3.2 Juvenile and youth closed penitentiary institutions

Juvenile prisoners aged 12–18 were housed in these institutions.. If the prisoner has completed the age of 18 but has not completed the age of 21, stay till sentenced to crime. They have open visit areas and closed visit areas for seven people, in addition to these, lawyers visit areas, SEGBİS rooms have audio and video information systems and family viewing rooms, at least 1 indoor sports hall, 1 outdoor football field with a hard base, 1 artificial grass carpet field, workshops at the end of Blocks. There are classrooms, computer classrooms, library, and 1 meeting and cinema hall in order to continue educational activities in the institution.

3.1.3.3 Children’s education houses

These institutions are especially for the rehabilitation of juvenile convicts. Children convict between the ages of 12–18 in these institutions acquire a profession and continue formal education. This institution is similar in structure to open penal institutions and there is no barrier against escape.

In Turkey, two types of correctional facilities cater to the sentences of juvenile delinquents. These are education houses and closed prisons for detainees and convicts. In education houses, children are required to undergo primary education and these institutions mainly operate as open corrective facilities.

In addition to all these features units established for mental disorders were put into operation in penal institutions.

4. State of imprisonment

Convicts may be transferred to open prisons directly for minor offenses but detainees or convicts (prisoners) transferred to closed/high-security prisons for serious and dangerous crimes and sentenced to long-term incarceration.

A prisoner is taken to the admission office for a security check, the goods he carries are checked, and his body is completely scanned. Whenever he receives new clothing from his family, his clothing is checked and registered one by one.. Dark blue clothes strictly forbidden as it is same color as the gendarme and guards. ““ARDEF (Research Evaluation Form) and also Institution Acceptance Form—10 questions are all about demographic information. S/He is taken to a temporary dormitory to meet a psycho-social service guard fills Psycho-Social Officer form and a Psychologist or social worker fills 3rd form to get the final report Individualized Rehabilitation System (BİSİS in Turkish) which can be seen about total risk and evaluation about prisoner. Also management let her/him know about instructions. Her/his room chosen according to type of crime and being detainee or convict. Convicts are provided with all their daily needs, including food, rest, and social activities, and can participate in courses and meetings with their lawyers. They may also leave their wards to work, under the supervision of prison guards. While aggravated life prisoners do not have access to the fresh air area, all other prisoners are able to access it through their ward or cell, and it is shared by all those in the ward. The prisoners in open institutions and delinquent children in children’ education houses participate in outside activities.

Training programs offered to convicts are to aid their personal development, including non-formal and distance education and literacy courses. The availability of these programs varies between open and closed and high-security prisons. Those in closed institutions may attend with special permission, while those in open prisons can take courses and exams at nearby schools and universities. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) covers the exam and training fees for convicts through a protocol signed with the Ministry of Family and Social Policies and the Ministry of National Education. These programs aim to support the growth and development of individuals in the justice system [10].

Convicts may be transferred to open penal institutions before being conditionally released.

The psychological support is provided more and easier in closed prison by individuals face to face whenever they apply for psychosocial service or attends programs like anger management, drug addiction as part of rehabilitation. The open penal institution is a chance where attending workshops to earn wages to integrate into society afterwards.

4.1 Training and rehabilitation of prisoners

The enforcement of laws is crucial in deterring criminal behavior and promoting positive patterns. Such measures also intend to thwart future crimes, thereby substantially reducing criminal activity. The law stipulates educational, correctional, and rehabilitation programs. Psychologists and social workers work in psycho-social service in Turkey’s penal institutions via face to face or group work with prisoners [11].

4.1.1 Individual study method

It is to support the psychological and social functions of people who have difficulties in their relations with themselves, with each other, and with the conditions in their environment. This is a one-to-one face-to-face psychological consultation, and the prisoner demand is issued.

4.1.2 Group working method

It is a method that includes the process of meeting the needs of the individual and helping to solve problems by making the desired changes in the individual and the environment through small groups of people. Below are the Behavior Programs developed for convicted detainees, implemented by psychologists and social workers who received the training of practitioners in the psycho-social service.

4.1.3 Think first (general criminal behavior program)

The “Think First” Program is a 23-session program designed for convicts. Sessions are 90 minutes. The program starts with problem-solving steps and continues with the development of these skills.

The program aims to help develop the skills of thinking about problems and solving problems in real-life situations, applying these skills to the problem of criminal behavior and reducing the risk of future criminal behavior.

4.1.4 Pre-release prisoner development program

The program has been prepared for convicts approaching their parole and consists of 10 sessions. Each session is designed to last 90 minutes.

The program is in order; communication skills, problem solving, negotiation skills, decision making, building relationships with family and friends, structured activities and stress management, rights, responsibilities and benefits, and future planning sessions. All sessions allow inmates to start acquiring new skills and improve existing ones. The program is based on research on what skills convicts need for successful release, and a cognitive behavioral approach is used to acquire these skills. Topics such as recidivism prevention and life planning are the focus of all sessions.

4.1.5 Anger management program

This group work program consists of 10 sessions of 2 hours each. This program, which is an introduction to Anger Management, has been prepared on the basis of the cognitive behavioral approach. The program educates participants about the need to control anger, demonstrates the benefits of this training, and develops anger management techniques. So it raises awareness of the participants about the processes that lead to their anger and the need to monitor their own behavior.

In the program, the stages of anger, physical manifestations of anger, problem-solving, self-calming expressions, self-assertion, group pressure, self-confidence, and anger in close relationships are covered. The program focuses on the benefits of successful anger management. This program is a program that can be applied not only to convicts but also to anyone who has difficulty controlling their anger. It is emphasized that controlling anger is not suppression, the anger of a person is not instantaneous but occurs through a gradual process, and if these processes are noticed and intervened with effective techniques, the destructive results of anger will not be encountered. The program is measured with the pre-test before the sessions and the post-test after the program, and feedback is received.

4.1.6 Cigarette alcohol substance addiction program (CASAP-SAMBA)

Treatment services are provided in line with the health policies determined in the studies carried out for cigarette, alcohol and substance addicts in penitentiary institutions, and the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of drug addiction are emphasized. In this context, there is a module on individual work on smoking addiction in the “Structured Mental Evaluation and Intervention Program (SMEIP-YARDM)” by the psycho-social aid service in penitentiary institutions, and the Cigarette Alcohol and Substance Addiction Program (SAMBA) is implemented as group work.

4.1.7 Rehabilitation programs in penitentiary institutions

Rehabilitation programs under the management of the General Directorate of Penitentiaries and Detention Facilities (CTE in Turkish) are implemented in Turkish Penal Institutions.

Research and Development and Project Office and Foreign Relations Office which are the units under the Department of Foreign Relations of CTE are all in charge of EU projects working with Non-governmental organization (NGOs) to develop rehabilitation programs for institutions as it is important in law 5275.

When designing rehabilitation programs, various factors are considered including the individual’s criminal history, possible risk scenarios, personality traits, mental and physical condition, and sentence duration. These programs are intended to facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into society once their sentence has been served.

Several sanction programs have been created in partnership with the European Union Cooperation and European Council technical cooperation. These programs were developed to expand model prison practices and support prison reform. The programs include anger management, dealing with alcohol and drug addiction, raising staff awareness of suicidal and self-harm behaviors, Psychosocial development of prisoners before release, General Criminal Behaviors Program (Think First), Sexual Offenders Program, and CALM Program (Anger Management). During the implementation of these programs, healthy prisoner behavior was rewarded with increased visitation time and telephone privileges, as well as the opportunity to earn money. The Ministry of National Education also offers awareness-raising training programs to prisoners with children aged 0–18 under the name “0–18 Age Family Education Program.” When the prisoner enters the detention center, two programs are carried out; IRNA (Individual Risk and Needs Analysis)—BISIS (In Turkısh), APRP (Assessment, Profile Tools and Rehabilitation Programs)—DEPAR (In Turkish).

5. IRNA-BİSİS (individual risk and needs analysis)

Before the Individualized Rehabilitation System, entry to the Institution for convict-detainee meets with the psychologist of the prison in the temporary admission department within a maximum of 3 days. In this first interview, the psychologist introduces the psychological services carried out in the institution and tells in which situations and how the convicted prisoner can apply to a psychologist. In this interview, information such as his physical structure, demographic information about himself and his family, his previous psychological disorders and treatments, if any, and whether he has any substance addiction are obtained from the convict. The information obtained as a result of the interview is recorded in the convict-prisoner identification form. So all documents were manually recorded and it took a really long time.

This project for the improvement of mental health and addiction services in penitentiary institutions, was developed for the purpose of early recognition of convicts and detainees with mental health problems in penitentiary institutions and training of psycho-social assistance and health service staff, and within the scope of this project, “Research Evaluation Form” (REF-ARDEF) and the “Structured Mental Evaluation and Individual Intervention Program” (IIP—YARDM). “Individual Intervention Programs” have been developed for 26 different mental and behavioral problems that are most common in penitentiary institutions for the prevention, rehabilitation, or treatment of mental problems and addiction-related problems.

Psychologists and social workers fill in the Research Evaluation Form (ARDEF) within the scope of the Individualized Improvement System (ICS-BISIS) to convicts and detainees during their admission to penitentiary institutions. The Individualized Improvement System (ICS-) consists of 3 Stages. Firstly, the “REF (ARDEF)—Institution Acceptance Form” is filled by the protection officer who is trained in the Institution Admission unit, and then “ARDEF-Psycho-Social Officer” form is filled in, and finally the “Psycho-Social Expert Form” is filled in by the Psychologist and/or Social Worker working in the Psycho-Social Assistance Service to determine the risks and needs of the convict, and as a result, an individualized psycho-social support and intervention program for each convicted prisoner. In line with the results of the ARDEF, convicts, and detainees are directed to individual interventions or group studies in accordance with their needs.

5.1 APRP-DEPAR (assessment, profile tools and rehabilitation programs)

European standards have been the basis for the evaluation of rehabilitation programs. These programs were designed with great care, ensuring that they are tailored to individual needs and have clear definitions of their functions. The aim is to create a system that can effectively reintegrate convicts from diverse backgrounds and criminal behavior into society. Additionally, personnel are trained to serve this purpose. The assessment, Profile Tools, and Rehabilitation Programs (DEPAR) project was implemented in the correctional activities of the institution.

5.2 Solution-focused therapy: Convicts with low problem solving skills

The goal of the program, which is one of the mandatory individual intervention programs, is the application of comprehensive therapy techniques that emphasize the positive strengths, resources, and effective coping skills of the convicts to bring about a positive change; It is an intervention program that aims to enable convicts to think solution-oriented and constructively. Solution Focused Therapy techniques, which are short-term therapy in principle, aim to provide positive changes in a short time.

5.3 Post-traumatic stress disorder intervention program

Considering that entering every penitentiary institution is a traumatic process or that convicts enter prisons as a result of traumatic events (for example, murder committed as a result of momentary anger), we can say that the most important phenomenon that psycho-social service specialists should deal with is traumatic processes. In this context, the post traumatic stress disorder intervention Program, which was developed due to the need in penitentiary institutions, is one of the mandatory individual intervention programs.

5.4 Psychopathology intervention program

It is a program that includes the symptomatic description of psychological and psychiatric disorders and aims to determine the most appropriate intervention techniques for convicts by increasing the psychopathology knowledge of psycho-social service specialists working in penitentiary institutions. The psychopathology of convicts has been the subject of many studies [12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25].

5.5 Motivation for change intervention program

Motivation for change intervention program, which is one of the mandatory individual intervention programs, aims to strengthen the motivation of change and their belief in change, of convicts who are undecided about making a change in their lives, and to enable them to make a change towards determination by enabling them to discover the reason for their indecision.

5.6 Female convicts intervention program

The intervention program for women convicts is a group intervention program that must be applied if it is deemed appropriate as a result of the evaluation. The overall goal of the program is to increase the communication and coping skills of female convicts who have lost their self-confidence despite being exposed to violence, have a history of possible substance use, and have weak coping skills due to these and similar reasons, to ensure their self-confidence. In her extensive work, Güney in 2020 visited all open and closed women’s penal institutions in Turkey and uncovered the details of a total of 404 women convicted of murder; their hobbies, socioeconomic characteristics, biological characteristics such as blood group, chronical physical diseases, personality characteristics, psychopathological symptoms, impulse control problems, psychosocial factors that trigger the murders they commit, and criminal behaviors [12]. Saruç visited 6 female (closed and open) prisons in 2014 and worked with 240 female convicts convicted of various crimes. She found that 24.6% of the female convicts were charged with theft, 18.3% for drug-related crimes, 10.8% for homicide, 8.8% for fraud, 7%, respectively. 5 for extortion, 6.3% for forgery, 5.8% for sexual crimes, 3.8% for injury, 1.7% for attempted murder, 0.4% for crime of embezzlement. She found that physical and sexual abuse and socio-economic reasons were the primary factors for their criminal acts [13].

5.7 The pain of separation intervention program

As a result of entering the penitentiary institution, people are deprived of many elements such as family, work, reputation, and rights. In these processes, they feel hopelessness, loneliness, and isolation and gradually break away from life. The main purpose of the intervention program for the pain of separation is to work with these negative feelings and thoughts and to help those who have to stay in the penitentiary institution to cling to life again. Although the Pain of Separation Program is an individual intervention program, it is a compulsory program to study.

5.8 Suicide prevention intervention program for convicts of high impact crimes

The program, which must be implemented individually in case of risk of suicide according to the evaluation results; To address the issue of suicidal ideation and attempts among inmates serving lengthy prison terms, it aims to create meaningful changes in the lives of convicts who have been sentenced for a long time and reconnect them to life, by involving all the staff of the penitentiary institution who have been informed about suicide within the program.

5.9 Impulsivity kleptomania intervention program

This mandatory intervention program aims to provide an intervention program that can be applied in Turkish penitentiary institutions to people who have a legal problem related to theft or kleptomania and who are found to have an impulse control disorder.

5.10 Control of sexual desire intervention program

9–12 months, depending on group dynamics, with the participation of 8–10 people, compulsory to be applied by an expert, aiming to reduce the possibility of committing new sexual crimes by using different techniques and appropriate intervention methods, to provide psycho-education to prisoners to develop non-violent sexual relations with the right partners. It is a group intervention program designed as 2-hour sessions, once a week.

5.11 Intervention program for LGBTI convicts

While the LGBTI intervention program, which is one of the mandatory group intervention programs, provides a holistic intervention program covering medical, psychiatric, psychological, and social support issues for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Bisexual convicts in Turkish penitentiary institutions, it was converted into an informative seminar for staff.

5.12 Radicalization (forensic criminals)

Participation in the program, which is deemed appropriate according to the results of the evaluation tools, is on a voluntary basis; Radicalization is an intervention program for the attitudes of violent extremist convicts who have committed criminal offenses. The program aims to recognize the need for help by recognizing and accepting the responsibilities of people regarding crime.

5.13 Terror offenders response program

This intervention program, which is voluntary, is a group intervention program for convicts who have been involved in terror crimes, who aim to make changes in their lives by reaching a certain level of awareness, and who are a party to voluntarily participate in the intervention program.

5.14 Intervention program for young convicts (18–21 age group)

Aiming to provide positive changes not only in the lives of young convicts in the penitentiary institution, but also in their post-release life, and to ensure the reintegration of young convicts into society; It is a mandatory group intervention program that utilizes new-generation psychological intervention techniques.

5.15 Domestic violence intervention program

The general goal of this program, which is one of the compulsory group intervention programs, and applied to male convicts, is to change negative behaviors by enabling men to examine their ingrained attitudes and reactions. It aims to eliminate all kinds of violent behavior (psychological/physical/sexual violence) against the partner (spouse/future spouse).

5.16 Program for convicts of murder

The general purpose of the program, which can be worked as a group intervention program, is to provide the convicts with skills such as internal burden, social responsibility, compensation for damages, acceptance of their actions, integration into society after release, and prevent returning to the penitentiary institution by committing a crime again. Güney in her study covered all open-closed penal women institutions in Turkey and examined the personality characteristics of women convicted of murder.

6. Conclusion

This chapter discusses how the legal system applies rules to offenders and the strategies to correct their criminal behavior. The ultimate goal is to provide a perspective for professionals working with offenders, to help them reintegrate into society as productive members with healthy behavior patterns, and to prevent them from repeating their past criminal behaviors. The chapter takes a broad view of the psychosocial practices related to criminal behavior in the line of Turkey applications. It provides an overview of the definition of crime and historical sanctions against it and offers suggestions for preventing and correcting criminal behavior. In this context, the following topics are covered:

1. How the laws apply to the offender,

2. How to correct the offender’s criminal behavior and reintegrate them into society with healthy habits,

3. How to prevent the offenders from committing the same crime again and help them become productive members of society after serving their sentence.

The chapter provides an overview of the psychosocial and physical practices of criminals in Turkey. It also covers the definition of crime and criminal behavior, a historical summary of how societies have dealt with crime, and a comprehensive summary of strategies for preventing and correcting criminal behaviors. It gives professionals in the field a framework for replacing criminal behavior with healthy alternatives. By including an example of the Turkish penitentiary approach, which prioritizes psychosocial interventions to rehabilitate individuals and prevent recurrence, it presents an informative example of the movement of criminal behavior from courthouse corridors to penitentiary institutions. While these techniques are specific to Turkish society, they are universal and modern crime prevention strategies.

In Turkey, the penitentiary system implements personalized rehabilitation plans to effectively prevent recidivism and promote prisoner rehabilitation. It employs various methods to measure and track the number of inmates who re-offend after their release.

Working with NGOs, associations, foundations, individual volunteers and voluntary organizations with which prison administrators and policymakers can cooperate might make a great contribution.

As new prisons are being constructed to meet capacity demands, efforts to prevent crime and support rehabilitation continue to develop and implement.