Turkey’s prison population has surged to 433,520, significantly exceeding the official capacity by 128,564 inmates. This brings the occupancy rate to approximately 142 percent. A judicial reform package in December had briefly reduced the prisoner count through the early release of 50,000 individuals, dropping the population to 402,012 in January. However, numbers have since climbed by over 31,500, returning to levels seen in December 2023. The data, released by the Justice Ministry, highlights a continuing struggle with prison overcrowding in the country. This increase raises concerns about living conditions and the strain on the penal system. The situation demonstrates the temporary impact of the recent judicial reforms.