Sociologist Dr. Berat Dağ, pointing to a transformation in crime rates in Turkey both quantitatively and qualitatively, said, “A 108% increase in crime rates has been observed within 10 years. Male convicts constitute more than 95% of this total each year.”
Stating that according to 2020 data, intentional injury (40,445 convicts) and theft (39,279 convicts) stood out as the most common crimes committed in Turkey, Dr. Berat Dağ said, “The 2020 data reveals that approximately 8,500 young people in the 15–17 age group were imprisoned for theft, injury, and drug-related offenses alone.”
Dr. Berat Dağ from the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Üsküdar University, evaluated the increase in crime rates.
A Transformation is Occurring in Crime Rates
Considering the latest statistical data published by official institutions, Dr. Berat Dağ pointed out that there is a transformation in crime rates in Turkey, both quantitatively and qualitatively. He stated, “Specifically, if we look at the data from the Ministry of Justice, while a total of 128,253 people entered prison in 2011, this number reached 266,831 by 2020. This indicates a 108% increase in crime rates within 10 years. Here, male convicts constitute more than 95% of this total each year. On the other hand, there is also a nearly twofold increase in the number of female convicts. All these data reveal a certain increase in general crime rates in Turkey recently.”
Most Common Crimes are Intentional Injury and Theft
Dr. Berat Dağ, pointing out that the distribution of those entering prison by crime type in Turkey reflects a trend of social violence and insecurity, continued:
“It can be thought that polarization, crisis, and fragmentation processes have an impact on the emergence of this trend. In other words, contradictions between economic, political, and social expectations and the structural outcomes encountered can increase crime rates. In this regard, 2020 data reveals that the most commonly committed crimes are intentional injury, for which 40,445 people were convicted, and theft, for which 39,279 people were convicted. These crimes are followed by drug trafficking, drug use, and fraud offenses. On the other hand, a long-term downward trend in murder crimes is also noteworthy. According to Police and Gendarmerie data, the number of murder cases, which was 3,020 in 2006, decreased to 2,075 in 2020. This decrease can be explained in the context of relatively effective law enforcement coordination, early intervention systems, and the impact of deterrent punishments. Therefore, it is extremely important for Turkey to simultaneously maintain competent legal sanctions and economic, political, and social integrity to reduce crime rates.”
Increased Tendency Towards Crime Among Youth
Stating that a significant increase in the rate of children and young people being drawn into crime is observed in Turkey, Dr. Berat Dağ said, “2020 data reveals that approximately 8,500 young people in the 15–17 age group were imprisoned for theft, injury, and drug-related offenses alone. This situation indicates an increasing tendency towards crime during adolescence. It is clear that effective legal measures and crime-preventing social policies must be implemented together urgently in Turkey against this increase.”
Crime Rates Vary According to Regional Differences
Dr. Berat Dağ stated that crime rates in Turkey vary according to regional differences, saying, “As an example, a project carried out by the Ministry of Interior in Erzurum is quite interesting. Within the scope of the ‘Huzurum Erzurum’ (My Peace Erzurum) project, crimes against property in the city were reduced by 34%, and crimes against persons by 5%. The same city also ranked first in Turkey for solving theft crimes. Based on this example, it can be said that ensuring social participation against crime and coordinating central and local security policies are effective in combating crime.”
Political-Economic Inequalities Also Increase Crime Rates
Dr. Berat Dağ pointed out that the skewed continuation of urbanization, internal and external migration processes, and political-economic inequalities increase crime rates, stating, “In this context, it is very important for the state to continuously ensure that every individual has the opportunity to exist equally and freely in both private and public spheres. The social solidarity power that this will bring will undoubtedly make a critical contribution to reducing crime rates.”
Prisons Are Over Capacity
Also touching upon the current occupancy rates of prisons in Turkey, Dr. Berat Dağ said, “As of 2020, the capacity of correctional institutions in Turkey was approximately 230,000 people, whereas today it has exceeded 266,000. It is clear that there are far more convicts in Turkey than this capacity. Although new prisons have been built to solve the problem of overcapacity, effective results have still not emerged. Therefore, it is necessary to think about bringing social solutions as much as legal measures against crime.”
The Prison Population in Turkey is Increasing
Dr. Berat Dağ concluded his words as follows:
“The prison population in Turkey is increasing. The fact that the individual, society, and the state do not sufficiently focus on the sociological foundations of crime may be effective in the emergence of this result. Although political and legal measures are taken against the crime problem at certain intervals in Turkey, this negative outcome does not change. Therefore, it can always be argued that the problem of crime will continue to increase if values such as trust, equality, and freedom are not made continuous in every area of social life.”