Inmate Interviews in Turkiye

Inmate interviews are regulated by various statutes and regulations in Turkiye. Inmates or prisoners are divided into two groups: convicts and detainees. Generally speaking convicts and detainees have very similar rights şin prison. Foreign inmates have almost the same interview rights with Turkish citizens as explained below.

Family Members

Family members of an inmate listed below are right to inmate interviews in Turkiye. Family members and inmate interviews can be conducted in weekdays and only once a week. The length of an inmate interview cannot be less than 30 minutes or more than 60 minutes. Family members have to apply to prosecution offices with the documents that show kinship to obtain an inmate interview permission.

• Mothers, fathers, children, siblings, spouses, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nephews,
• Mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandmothers-in-law, grandfathers-in-law, grandsons-in-law, granddaughters-in-law, uncles-in-law, aunts-in-law, nephews-in-law.

Foreign inmates are also entitled to “close” interviews without a barrier during official and religious holidays like Turkish inmates. It should also be noted that prison officers contact the inmate and ask him/her to confirm his/her kinship with the visitor before organizing an inmate interview. In other words, kinship is also confirmed by the inmate in addition to proving documents.

Lawyer – Prisoner Interviews

Turkish lawyers, who are registered to the bar associations in Turkiye, can interview with prisoners at any time on 7/24 basis. Turkish lawyers do not have to provide a power of attorney for attending interviews. Foreign lawyers, on the other hand, who are not registered to the bar associations in Turkiye, cannot interview with prisoners on their own in Turkiye. In order for foreign lawyers to attend prisoner interviews a licensed Turkish lawyer must attend the interview.

Embassy & Consulate Officers

Foreign inmates have the right to interview with embassy and consulate officers. It should be noted that consular or embassy officers can interview with their citizens only, and the interviews are conducted only if the inmate consents to interview. Inmates have the right refuses to interview with anyone. If a foreigner is convicted in Turkiye, the pertinent embassy or consulate is notified about his/her conviction status if the inmate does not requests otherwise. In other words, an inmate may apply to prison management by a written petition and ask the prison officers not no notify a consulate and embassy about his/her conviction. Foreign mission staff can obtain either from the Ministry of Justice or prosector’s office. Honorary consulates have the same rights with regular consulate officers.

Clergymen and Medical Doctors

Medical doctors can get interview permission from only the Ministry of Justice provided that the inmate has a disease that cannot be treated in Turkiye. If an inmate has a health problem that can be cured in Turkiye can never interview a medical doctor in prison. On the other hand, clergymen can obtain interview permission from the Ministry of Justice, and interview with inmates without any additional condition.

Other Visitors

A person, who is not one of the relatives or status listed above, should apply to the Ministry of Justice instead of prosecution offices, and show a reasonable cause to get permission for an inmate interview. This same procedure is also applied for foreign persons who seek interviews with Turkish inmates.

Regulations for Inmate Interviews

Visitors are not permitted to bring transmitting devices, such as cellphones, pagers, any other electronic devices, USB sticks, car keys, sim cards, smart watches inside prison facilities. If a visitor tries to enter into a prison with one of the prohibited things, he or she is get arrested immediately, then a criminal law case is opened against the visitor. Thus, visitors should doublecheck their pockets carefully not to forget anything in pockets prior to visiting an inmate.