DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO TURKEY
AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ TÜRKİYE DELEGASYONU
Press Release / Basın Duyurusu
EU PROJECT CUTS JUVENILE CRIME, SUPPORTS CRIME VICTIMS
The Ministers of Justice of Turkey and the UK will join a ceremony Tuesday in Ankara
to celebrate the success of an EU-funded project supporting the Turkish Probation
Service. The project has contributed to a 10% reduction of youth re-offending in
Turkey and has improved the capacity to support victims of crime. Besides HE Mr
Sadullah Ergin and the Rt. Hon Lord McNally the event will be attended by
Ambassador Marc Pierini, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey.
The €1.7 million project, carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of England and
Wales, assisted Turkey in setting up a professional probation service. This new institution
represents a modern and effective approach to criminal justice and has led to major
improvements in two priority areas: the prevention of juvenile offenses and support to victims
of crime.
Ambassador Pierini said: “The new enforcement system of Turkey has introduced
supervision of juvenile offenders both under probation and after prison release. This gives a
more solid basis for breaking the cycle of re-offending by juveniles. Early intervention will
definitely help prevent re-offending, reduce overcrowding in prisons and play a very
important part in the rehabilitation of juveniles into the community. There are approximately
2.200 juveniles in Turkish prisons. The modern approach of applying probation as an
alternative to imprisonment wherever possible is to the Turkish population’s advantage
because it has proven to be effective and in accordance with international and European
standards. The new intervention programmes for juveniles developed under this project will
offer judges more choice in terms of community protection. The new penal measure also
enables the probation service of Turkey in assisting the victims of crime both in social and
economic terms. Victim rights have become an increasingly important issue recently and
have been developed rather substantially in Europe. With this project, the Turkish probation
service has now taken the lead on work with victims within the criminal justice system, which
will improve public confidence.”
There are currently 6,207 juveniles on probation. By the end of the project, re-offending rates
of juveniles under supervision were reduced by 10 % with a majority attending the new
intervention programmes. The improved services for the victims of crime saw take-up of
more than 100% - 810 victims applied to the probation services 494 have received
assistance.
The project was carried out as part of the EU’s Twinning programme, which provides the
framework for administrations in the beneficiary countries to work with their counterparts in
EU Member States. Together they develop and implement a project that targets the
transposition, enforcement and implementation of a specific part of EU legislation.
Time/ Date:
Venue:
Tuesday, 28 September 2010, 09:30 hrs.
Ministry of Justice, Gazi Ek Binası Conference Hall - Ankara
For further information, please contact the Delegation:
Nur Önsoy, Tel.: (+90 312) 459 87 00, E-mail: ayse-nur.onsoy@ec.europa.eu
Uğur Mumcu Caddesi No:88 Kat:4 Gaziosmanpaşa 06700 Ankara
Tel.: (+90 312) 459 87 00 Faks: (+90 312) 446 67 37 E-posta: delegation-turkey@ec.europa.eu
Internet: http://www.avrupa.info.tr
DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO TURKEY
AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ TÜRKİYE DELEGASYONU
Press Release / Basın Duyurusu
Ankara, 27 September 2010
2010/2552
Uğur Mumcu Caddesi No:88 Kat:4 Gaziosmanpaşa 06700 Ankara
Tel.: (+90 312) 459 87 00 Faks: (+90 312) 446 67 37 E-posta: delegation-turkey@ec.europa.eu
Internet: http://www.avrupa.info.tr