In cooperation with Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Istanbul Anatolian Supervised Release Directorate, the “20th Year Introductory Seminar on Supervised Release” was held. The development process, social function, and rehabilitation-based structure of the supervised release practice in Turkey were discussed. Furthermore, its place within the individual-society relationship, social adaptation, and control mechanisms were also mentioned.
The seminar, held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi South Campus Socrates Hall, was attended by Istanbul Anatolian Supervised Release Directorate Manager Seviyya Sancı, Chief İsmail Yardım, and Psychologist Özge Sezer as speakers.
The event, which attracted significant interest, was also attended by Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Deputy Dean Dr. Lecturer Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin and faculty academics. In the seminar, the structure of supervised release, which focuses on reintegrating individuals into society rather than a punitive approach, its historical development, and application processes were evaluated from multiple perspectives.
Seviyya Sancı: “Practices aim to reintegrate the convicted into society”
Institution Manager Seviyya Sancı stated that supervised release is a human-centered and community-based execution system, serving as an alternative to custodial sentences. Sancı added that supervised release practices aim to reintegrate the convicted into society through supervision, monitoring, and rehabilitation activities, without disconnecting them from their social environment.
“Works are carried out by a multidisciplinary team”
Sancı, also touching upon the historical development of supervised release in Turkey, stated that the system gained a legal framework in 2005, its scope expanded over the years, and currently, supervision and rehabilitation activities are carried out for hundreds of thousands of individuals. Sancı added that they serve as the sole directorate on the Anatolian Side of Istanbul, and the works are conducted by a multidisciplinary team consisting of different professional groups.
İsmail Yardım talked about supervised release practices
Subsequently, Institution Chief İsmail Yardım also provided participants with information regarding the execution processes, case types, judicial control measures, and field operations of supervised release practices. Yardım drew attention to the structure of supervised release, which is based on supervision and monitoring within the community.
Özge Sezer addressed the rehabilitation and psychosocial support dimensions of the practices
Psychologist Özge Sezer, on the other hand, made evaluations regarding the rehabilitation and psychosocial support dimensions of supervised release practices. Sezer invited students and academics to contribute to the process through volunteer work.
After the Q&A session, the event concluded with a group photo.