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This study examines the Hybrid Model of Restorative Justice from a comparative perspective between Civil Law and Common Law systems as a reflection of the transformation of criminal law policy. The Civil Law system, rooted in legal positivism, emphasizes formal legal certainty through codification, whereas the Common Law system allows broader judicial discretion and judge-made law. These differing paradigms significantly influence the development and implementation of restorative justice. Indonesia, as a Civil Law country, has demonstrated a shift toward a hybrid legal policy by incorporating Common Law values into its criminal justice reforms, particularly through the National Criminal Code. This research employs a normative juridical method using conceptual, statutory, and comparative law approaches. The findings indicate that the Hybrid Model of Restorative Justice represents a strategic legal policy choice aimed at harmonizing legal certainty and substantive justice in accordance with the Pancasila legal ideals.

This article examines the relationship between Islamic politics and democracy in contemporary Indonesia. As the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia presents a distinctive dynamic in the interaction between Islamic values and modern democratic systems. This study aims to analyze how Islamic political actors, including political parties and religious organizations, interact with and adapt to democratic practices in the post-Reform era. The research employs a qualitative method through a literature review of Indonesian academic journals published within the last five years. The findings indicate that Islamic politics in Indonesia is plural and dynamic, showing an adaptive tendency toward democratic principles. Islamic values such as deliberation (shura), justice, and equality are considered compatible with democratic ideals. However, Islamic politics also faces contemporary challenges, including the politicization of religion, identity politics, and social polarization. The article concludes that the relationship between Islamic politics and democracy in Indonesia is dynamic and largely adaptive within the framework of the Pancasila state.

The abuse of authority by public officials within Indonesia’s governmental administration has become an increasingly urgent issue to address. Such misconduct undermines the fundamental principles of good governance  including transparency, accountability, and justice which are essential for ensuring efficient and effective government operations. This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the forms of abuse of authority by public officials, the factors influencing such behavior, and its impact on the effectiveness of governance and public trust. The research employs a normative approach with a prescriptive legal method, analyzing legislation related to the abuse of authority as well as a case-based approach to explore the implementation of authority by public officials in governmental practice.The findings indicate that abuse of authority may occur in various forms, such as exceeding the limits of granted power, conflating different authorities, or acting arbitrarily for personal or group interests  all of which contradict the principle of legality governing governmental actions. Moreover, such practices negatively affect the quality of public services and tarnish the image of governmental institutions. The study also finds that although Law No. 30 of 2014 on Government Administration provides a clear legal framework, its implementation remains hindered by weak internal and external oversight systems. Therefore, this research recommends strengthening more effective supervision mechanisms, enhancing transparency in administrative decision-making processes, and involving the public in monitoring efforts to ensure that public officials exercise their authority in accordance with established objectives in pursuit of a clean and just government.

Overcapacity in Correctional Institutions is a structural problem that is still a serious challenge in the correctional system in Indonesia. This condition is characterized by the number of inmates that far exceeds the ideal capacity, resulting in a decrease in the quality of coaching, health services, and security. This study aims to analyze the factors that cause overcapacity in prisons and the impact they have on the effectiveness of the correctional system. The method used is a normative juridical approach supported by empirical data from relevant agency reports. The results of the study show that the main factors causing overcapacity include the high crime rate, criminal policies that are still oriented towards prison sentences, and limited correctional facilities and infrastructure. The impact of overcapacity is very felt in the implementation of inmate development. Crowded housing conditions also increase conflicts between inmates, the spread of infectious diseases, and violations of basic rights. In addition, the limited number of correctional officers causes supervision to not run optimally and has the potential to trigger deviant practices in prisons. Therefore, it is necessary to reformulate penal policies through the optimization of non-prison penal alternatives, institutional capacity building, and strengthening rehabilitation and social reintegration programs to realize a more humane and just correctional system.

This research analyzes the application of the equality before the law principle in handling narcotics cases by the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Legundi Surabaya. The principle of equality before the law is a fundamental principle guaranteed in Article 27 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution, yet its implementation in narcotics law enforcement still faces various challenges. This study employs a normative juridical method with a qualitative approach to examine LBH Legundi's strategies in ensuring clients fully obtain their constitutional rights. The findings reveal that although LBH Legundi has implemented various strategies such as detailed examination of arrest procedures, optimization of legal instruments, and efforts for detention suspension, the application of the equality before the law principle remains hindered by several factors. The main challenges include strong social stigma against narcotics offenders, limited resources of legal aid institutions, disparities in judicial decisions, structural barriers in accessing justice, weak supervision systems, minimal systemic support from the state, and a law enforcement mindset that remains punitive rather than rehabilitative. This condition creates a significant gap between suspects from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and those from affluent backgrounds, which contradicts the spirit of substantive justice. The study concludes that realizing the principle of equality before the law requires comprehensive reform touching structural, cultural, and systemic aspects of Indonesia's criminal justice system.  

The reform of Indonesia’s criminal law through Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP) marks a fundamental shift in the national criminal justice system, particularly through the formal recognition of the living law as law that lives within society. This article analyzes the correlation between living law and the principle of legality within the context of national criminal law reform. The study employs a normative juridical method with statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches to examine how the 2023 Criminal Code seeks to balance legal certainty with substantive justice. The findings indicate that the regulation of the principle of legality in Article 1 of the KUHP remains the primary foundation for ensuring the protection of individual rights and preventing arbitrary state actions. However, the recognition of living law under Article 2 of the KUHP expands the sources of criminal law beyond written statutes to include social values living within the community, insofar as they are consistent with Pancasila, general legal principles, and human rights. The relationship between the principle of legality and living law in the 2023 KUHP is not antagonistic but rather complementary and harmonious. Living law enriches the legality principle substantively through moral and social justice dimensions, while the legality principle serves as a normative safeguard to maintain legal certainty and prevent the abuse of power. Therefore, the integration of both principles reflects a new paradigm of Indonesian criminal law that is pluralistic, just, and civilized, reaffirming the nation’s legal politics grounded in Pancasila values and the principles of a democratic rule of law.

This study analyzes the juridical issues related to the implementation of criminal sanctions below the statutory minimum, as reflected in Cassation Decision Number 7853/K/Pid.Sus/2024. The focus of this research centers on the tension between the rigid provisions of Article 111 paragraph (1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 concerning narcotics and the reality of judicial practice, which often deviates from these provisions. This phenomenon raises debates regarding the extent to which the principle of legality can be compromised in pursuit of justice without undermining the pillar of legal certainty within Indonesia’s criminal justice system. Using a normative legal research method with a statutory and case study approach, this study qualitatively analyzes judges’ considerations. The findings indicate that, although the policy of imposing sentences below the minimum carries the risk of creating legal uncertainty, the Supreme Court in this case reinterpreted the principle of legality. Judges tend to prioritize proportionality and substantive justice to avoid purely mechanical punishment. The study concludes that, while judicial discretion represents a concrete expression of judicial independence, such practice requires clearer normative parameters. Without explicit regulation, deviations from the statutory minimum risk widening disparities in judicial decisions. Therefore, standardized sentencing guidelines are necessary to preserve legal integrity while maintaining a sense of justice for defendants.

The enactment of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP) marks a historic milestone in the reform of Indonesia's criminal law system. This study examines the fundamental changes from the old Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht) to the new National Criminal Code, focusing on the paradigm shift from retributive justice to restorative justice as a form of law enforcement reform. Using a normative juridical method with a statutory and comparative approach, the study analyzes the philosophical, structural, and substantive transformation embedded in the new Criminal Code. The findings indicate that the new Criminal Code introduces significant reforms including the adoption of the dualistic theory separating criminal acts from criminal liability, the recognition of living law, the expansion of criminal subjects to include corporations, the formulation of sentencing guidelines based on restorative principles, and the integration of Pancasila values as the moral foundation of the criminal law system. The case of corruption prosecution involving the Chromebook laptop procurement at the Ministry of Education illustrates the ongoing challenges of criminal law enforcement during this transitional period. This research concludes that the transition from the old to the new Criminal Code constitutes a comprehensive legal reform that transforms not only normative substance but also the fundamental paradigm of criminal law enforcement in Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the investigation process involving children as perpetrators of trafficking in persons at the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of Bukittinggi Police Resort and to assess the forms of legal protection provided at each stage of the examination. This research applies an empirical juridical approach by combining literature review and field research through interviews with investigators and related parties. The findings indicate that the investigation process has been conducted in accordance with Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System, while upholding the principle of the best interests of the child. Legal protection is implemented through legal assistance, closed hearings, limited detention periods, and coordination with relevant institutions to support the child’s recovery and rehabilitation. However, several obstacles remain, including the limited number of investigators, restricted investigation timeframes, and difficulties in presenting witnesses. This study concludes that legal protection for children involved as perpetrators of trafficking in persons has been carried out in line with normative regulations, yet it requires strengthened institutional capacity and inter-agency coordination to ensure more effective implementation.

Efforts to protect children in conflict with the law constitute a concrete manifestation of the state’s responsibility in implementing the principles of restorative justice. This study aims to comprehensively examine the implementation process of diversion at the Pengadilan Negeri Bukittinggi and to assess the extent to which its application achieves the primary objective of the juvenile criminal justice system, namely restoring the child’s social condition without emphasizing retribution. This research employs an empirical juridical approach by combining literature review and field research through interviews with judges, court clerks, and other relevant parties. The findings indicate that the implementation of diversion at the Pengadilan Negeri Bukittinggi has been carried out in accordance with Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System. The diversion process is conducted through deliberation involving the offender, the victim, their respective families, and supporting institutions under the guidance of a diversion facilitator. However, several challenges remain, including limited public understanding of the importance of restorative-based settlement, insufficient human resources with adequate competence in implementing diversion, and frequent failures in reaching agreements between offenders and victims. This study concludes that diversion in court proceedings is not merely a legal obligation but also an essential instrument in creating a more humane child-oriented justice system. Therefore, enhancing the competence of law enforcement officers and strengthening inter-agency coordination are necessary to support the sustainable success of diversion.

The enforcement of election criminal law plays a crucial role in safeguarding democratic integrity and upholding the principle of popular sovereignty. Law Number 7 of 2017 establishes the Integrated Law Enforcement Center (Sentra Gakkumdu) as a coordinated mechanism involving the Election Supervisory Body, the Police, and the Prosecution Service in addressing election crimes. However, in practice, the Gakkumdu system has not fully ensured a balanced realization of legal certainty, substantive justice, and legal utility. This study aims to analyze the problems of election criminal law enforcement within the Gakkumdu system, examine the relevance of the Restorative Justice approach in election law, and formulate a reconstruction of election criminal law enforcement based on this approach. This research employs normative legal research using statutory, conceptual, legal philosophy, and legal policy approaches. The findings indicate that the weaknesses in election criminal law enforcement arise from institutional fragmentation, normative ambiguity, and a legal culture dominated by legalistic and sectoral perspectives. The Restorative Justice approach is considered relevant as it prioritizes substantive justice and the restoration of democratic values. Therefore, reconstructing election criminal law enforcement based on Restorative Justice is essential to strengthening democratic legitimacy and public trust in elections in Indonesia.

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of theft committed by 15-year-old adolescents in market environments, which creates tension between criminal law enforcement and the principle of child protection in the Indonesian legal system. The study aims to analyze the legal regulations of theft under the old Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 1946), the new Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023), and the Juvenile Criminal Justice System Law; to examine the criminal liability of adolescents from the perspective of criminal law theory; and to review the implementation of restorative justice and diversion. The research method used is normative legal research with statutory, conceptual, and case approaches, particularly reviewing the provisions of Article 591 of the new Criminal Code, the theory of fault, and the principle of proportionality. The results indicate that the criminal liability of children must take into account psychological limitations, maturity levels, and criminogenic factors, including the influence of the social environment. Furthermore, the mens rea element in the phrase "known or reasonably suspected" is difficult to apply in practice to transactions involving small losses, as price reasonableness can obscure indications of malicious intent. This finding affirms that imposing criminal penalties on children in cases of petty theft potentially contradicts the principles of ultimum remedium and proportionality. Therefore, law enforcement should prioritize diversion, mediation, and restorative justice approaches by involving families and communities to achieve substantive justice and prevent excessive criminalization of children.

The background of this research aims to determine and analyze judges' perspectives on the application of customary law in resolving criminal cases at the Padangsidimpuan District Court. Customary law is an unwritten legal system that exists and develops within society and is often used as a consideration in deciding cases related to local values ​​and cultural wisdom. In the context of Padangsidimpuan society, which still strongly upholds customs and traditions, customary law often serves as a means of resolving social conflicts before they enter the formal legal realm. The research method used is empirical juridical, with data collection techniques through direct interviews with judges and document studies of several relevant court decisions. The results indicate that most judges at the Padangsidimpuan District Court view customary law as a complementary instrument to positive law, particularly in minor criminal cases with social and familial dimensions. Judges strive to consider customary values ​​to achieve substantive justice, without neglecting the principle of legality and statutory provisions. However, the application of customary law cannot replace positive law in its entirety; rather, it serves as a moral and social value that strengthens the community's sense of justice.

This study stems from a classic question in the study of political hadith regarding leadership, specifically the hadith "The Imams are from Quraysh," which is often understood textually as requiring leaders to be from the Quraysh tribe. This kind of understanding often stops at the normative and historical level, without considering the socio-political context of modern society, which is fundamentally different from the early Islamic era. As a result, a gap emerged between the moral message of the hadith and the reality of the leadership system in democratic countries like Indonesia. This research aims to reanalyse the meaning of hadiths about Quraysh and non-Quraysh leadership, and to trace their relevance to the concept of state leadership in the Indonesian constitutional system, placing Islamic political theory and modern leadership theory on an equal footing (theory = theory). This research employs a qualitative approach based on library research, with the primary sources being political hadiths and classical references such as al-Ahkam al-Sulthaniyyah by al-Mawardi, supplemented by contemporary literature on the modern Indonesian government system. The analysis was conducted using comparative methods and content analysis to explore the commonalities and differences between the concept of Imamah in Islam and leadership in modern democratic systems. The research findings indicate that the hadith about Quraysh leadership cannot be understood rigidly as a limitation of lineage, but rather as an ethical guideline emphasising the principles of justice, trust, responsibility, and public interest. The ethical values in the hadith align with the basic principles of the presidential system in Indonesia, such as public accountability, limitation of power, and popular sovereignty, as regulated in the 1945 Constitution. Despite challenges such as corruption, the politicisation of religion, and weak leadership morality, the values of the hadith remain relevant if translated into public norms and modern governance practices. This research confirms that leadership in Islam and Indonesian democracy can complement each other, with Islam providing a moral and spiritual foundation, while democracy offers the legal and political structure to realise it.

State institutions play a primary role in governing and exercising power within a country. Indonesia, as a unitary state with a republican system, regulates the state's institutional structure through the 1945 Constitution, which serves as the supreme legal basis and guideline for state administration. The function of state institutions is to ensure that all aspects of government are implemented in accordance with the principles of law, justice, and public welfare. The state is not only considered a legal entity but also a social entity with specific functions and logic. The state's objectives are directed at balancing government power and citizen rights and accommodating the interests of individuals and the wider community. Following the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, Indonesia's institutional system underwent significant changes with the establishment of independent institutions that strengthen democracy, transparency, and accountability. Understanding the state's foundations, the requirements for formation, the form and system of government, and the relationships between institutions is crucial for maintaining Indonesia's constitutional order. Furthermore, public respect for state symbols and institutions contributes to strengthening unity and political stability, and realizing the ideals of a sovereign and prosperous nation.

This study delves into the philosophical foundations of natural law, contrasting the irrational theories of Thomas Aquinas with the rational perspectives of Hugo Grotius and Immanuel Kant, examining their relevance within Indonesia’s deeply religious and pluralistic context. Aquinas argues that natural law is divinely ordained and serves as a universal moral guide, where law and morality are intrinsically linked. On the other hand, Grotius proposes that while natural law originates from divine will, human reason enables individuals to comprehend it, even without divine revelation. Kant’s philosophy shifts the focus to moral autonomy and the freedom of individuals, emphasizing that legitimate law must be based on principles of universal morality that respect human dignity. In the context of Indonesia, with its diverse religious landscape, integrating these philosophical ideas provides a balanced approach to the interaction between secular law, religious teachings, and moral values. The research adopts a juridical-normative methodology with a conceptual and legislative approach, analyzing secondary legal sources to explore how natural law influences Indonesia's legal system. The findings indicate that while Indonesia's legal system primarily follows positive law, it would benefit from incorporating the moral and spiritual aspects derived from natural law theory. The study concludes that Indonesia’s legal system can achieve a more substantive form of justice by integrating the principles of Aquinas, Grotius, and Kant, thus ensuring a more harmonious blend of legal certainty, moral integrity, and religious principles in the country’s laws.  

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.

This study aims to analyze the factors causing the differences in legal treatment and their implications on the principles of equality before the law, legal certainty, and the principle of legality. The method used is empirical legal research with a juridical-sociological approach. This study involves case studies, interviews with law enforcement officers and victim advocates, as well as an analysis of regulations and court decisions. The results indicate that the differences in legal treatment are caused by the application of subjective detention requirements in the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), law enforcement discretion, differing legal interpretations between prosecutors and judges, the quality of legal assistance for defendants, and social pressures and societal dynamics. The impact of these differences is the failure to achieve substantive justice, weakening legal certainty, and declining public trust in the criminal justice system. This research has significant academic urgency as it contributes to the development of the enforcement of laws regarding Human Trafficking (TPPO), emphasizing the need for consistency, transparency, and the protection of victims' rights in the application of criminal law.

This research explores the significant role of cultural institutions in overseeing and enforcing laws based on local wisdom in Indonesia, a nation characterized by its rich cultural diversity. The purpose of this study is to analyze how cultural institutions, particularly customary law bodies, can help integrate local traditions and values into the formal legal system, ensuring that laws are more reflective of and responsive to the diverse communities across the country. The study employs a normative approach with a prescriptive method to examine the challenges and opportunities of incorporating local wisdom into national law, particularly in the realm of legal oversight and dispute resolution. The research reveals that, despite constitutional recognition of customary law, its practical implementation within the national legal framework remains hindered by conflicts between customary norms and formal legal structures. Key findings suggest that strengthening the role of cultural institutions in legal processes can enhance both the legitimacy and effectiveness of the legal system, promoting social harmony and fostering justice that resonates with the local context. Ultimately, the study concludes that empowering cultural institutions is vital for creating a legal environment that respects and integrates local wisdom, which will contribute to a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable legal system in Indonesia.