Turkey's population has increased by 26 percent in the last 20 years, and has also experienced dramatic increases in crime rates, with a 400 percent surge in drug-related crimes, theft and homicide, Today's Zaman reported.
In 1994, the number of arrested prisoners was recorded as 38,931; 20 years later, as of the beginning of October, the number of prisoners this year has reached 152,335.
Even during the Sept. 12, 1980 coup d'état period that lasted until 1983, though there were large numbers of innocent people arrested, it only amounted to 80,000 prisoners.
According to the data provided by the Ministry of Justice, the crime rate is growing with each passing day.
According to the statistics provided, the population of Turkey has increased from 60 million to 76 million in 20 years and the crime rate has increased by 26 percent. The number of people who have been arrested for robbery is 30,992, the number for drug trade offenses is 26,697, and the number of those arrested for homicide has reached 26,578 this year as of September.
Furthermore, according to the statistics there are 794 minors from the 12 to 17-year-old age group who have been convicted, and 7,018 convicts in the 18 to 20-year-old age group. In comparison to previous years, this is a 40 percent increase in crimes like those related to the drug trade, robbery, extortion and homicide committed by minors and young adults.