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This article examines the handling of sexual harassment offenses within Indonesia’s criminal justice system, which faces complex challenges, particularly when restorative justice (RJ) is used as an alternative mechanism for case resolution. This study analyzes the implementation of RJ in sexual harassment cases at the Sleman Resort Police (Polres Sleman), referring to the Indonesian National Police Regulation No. 8 of 2021 on the Handling of Criminal Acts Based on Restorative Justice. The analysis focuses on how this policy is applied at the operational level and how its practice interacts with the normative provisions set forth in Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS), which explicitly prohibits non-judicial settlement for several categories of sexual violence. Using a qualitative approach through interviews, observations, and document analysis, the study finds that RJ continues to be applied at Polres Sleman despite its potential conflict with the prohibitions stipulated in the UU TPKS. At the operational level, the legal culture of police officers plays a significant role in encouraging the use of RJ, driven by pragmatic considerations such as efficiency in case resolution, social pressure from the community, and officers’ perceptions of the seriousness of sexual harassment cases. As a result, victims’ rights often fail to become the central focus, even though victimology emphasizes the importance of victim recovery and protection. The study concludes that regulatory harmonization, increased sensitivity of law enforcement officers toward sexual violence issues, and strengthened victim protection mechanisms are essential to ensure that the application of RJ does not undermine substantive justice.

For the general public, Indonesia’s five-year electoral cycle is often perceived merely as a procedural voting event, overlooking the substance and quality of how voters select presidential or regional leaders. Following the 2024 General Election, the challenges of democracy have shifted from technical management to the prevention of polarization, money politics, digital disinformation, identity politics, and echo chambers. This article analyzes the urgency of implementing sustainable voter education during the inter-election period, using the General Election Commission (KPU) of Balikpapan City as a case study. The study focuses on KPU Balikpapan’s strategies to transform pragmatic voters, who are susceptible to manipulation, into informed participants, while also addressing the vulnerabilities of first-time voters ahead of the 2029 Election to increase participation rates. The analysis indicates that political education during the non-election period is a critical moment to build the cognitive foundation of voters without compromising their independent choice, making the role of KPU Balikpapan essential in maintaining democratic integrity in the city.