Between 4 and 6 June 2024, a study visit to Spain was organised with 9 representatives from the Ministry of Justice, including Directorate General of Prisons and Detention Houses, prison management and staff, in order to get familiarise with good practices on discipline and reward procedures for prisoners in line with the Council of Europe and international standards.
The Turkish delegation, including the Deputy Minister of Justice, had the opportunity to visit the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions of Spain, as well as two prisons, namely Soto del Real-Madrid V and CIS Josefina Aldecoa in Navalcarnero, renowned for their innovative and effective respect modules. These modules are designed to foster a culture of respect and dignity among inmates, promoting fair and transparent system of disciplinary measures and reward procedures.
The insights gained from this experience are expected to play a role in shaping the future of prison discipline and reward procedures in Türkiye, ensuring that they are applied in a fair and transparent manner, in accordance with the international human rights standards. The next step could be to apply some aspects of Spain's practices in Türkiye, to further promote humane treatment of inmates, and ultimately contribute to a safer society.
This Study Visit was organised within the scope of the Project on "Enhancing the Disciplinary and Reward Procedures for Prisoners in Türkiye” co-funded by Norway, the Human Rights Trust Fund of the Council of Europe, Belgium, Türkiye, and the Netherlands.
