A

s part of the partnership that Denmark and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have with the local government in Palembang, we recently visited the Palembang Rehabilitation Center (LPKA). It is nationally renowned for its cutting-edge approach in guiding the inmates and it has even won a national award for being the best rehabilitation center.

From providing a dormitory-like facility to providing educational services, computer classes and a library corner, inmates are given the chance to advance themselves and reintegrate into the community seamlessly. We also had a chance to sit down and exchange information with the center’s officials on how they are leading the government’s effort to implement restorative justice.

While retributive justice emphasizes retaliation, restorative justice focuses on reintegration and recovery of a situation between the offender, victim and community members.

In Indonesia, the application of restorative justice was triggered by a soaring number of juvenile offenders and overcrowded correctional facilities. In 2017, the Correction Directorate General said overcapacity occurred in 87 percent of correctional facilities. This has had an impact on inmates’ welfare and access to basic services. Overcrowded correctional facilities can also lead to increased crime rates due to strengthened networks between offenders.

Restorative justice is an integral part of the National Strategy for Access to Justice as well as the National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the National Law and Human Rights Development Plan 2015-2019. It is also part of Indonesia’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal No. 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.

The enforcement of Law No. 11/2012 on juvenile criminal justice is a major milestone for ndonesia as it adopts restorative justice principles for juvenile cases. Now, with a policy framework in place, the implementation of the law requires a paradigm shift, enhanced coordination and stronger local government engagement.

It is crucial to ensure that law enforcers apply and the community accepts the restorative justice principles. Under restorative justice, law enforcers shift their punitive approach to restorative mechanism.

Law enforcement agencies, including the police and the Attorney General’s Office, play a vital role in ensuring that restorative justice principles work from the earliest stage so that cases involving juveniles do not go to court.

Law enforcers can act as a facilitator for restorative settlement. This includes bringing together the offender and the victim to reach a mutual agreement, such as returning the offender to the community.

Indonesia requires at least 8,000 trained law enforcers to promote restorative justice. However, as of 2017, only 979 have been certified. Article 105 of Law No. 11/2012 states that by 2019, the necessary infrastructure and trained law enforcers must be in place for the implementation of restorative justice principles; therefore, efforts to realize the mandate should be intensified.

Coordination between law enforcers is key to an effective implementation of restorative justice. The restorative justice process requires engagement of legal institutions to ensure checks-and-balances among the law enforcers in each process. Through the project “Improving Restorative Justice through Integration” (IRJI), the UNDP and the Embassy of Denmark are supporting the Indonesian government in strengthening the rule of law and restorative justice throughout the country.

The IRJI project supports efforts to enhance coordination among law enforcement agencies as well as institutional capacity building for effective implementation of restorative justice in Indonesia.

Recently, IRJI organized a public discussion to clarify the roles and functions of each law enforcement agency. Officials from the Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Police, the National Correctional Facility Directorate General and the Social Affairs Ministry attended the public discussion. During the discussion, the Embassy of Denmark shared the country’s experience in upholding restorative justice.

Restorative justice is an important aspect of the Danish justice system. The Danish experience has shown that restorative justice prevents crimes and conflicts and benefits society as a whole. Restorative justice redresses and prevents grievances and conflicts in society and gives convicts a chance to return to society as well-functioning citizens.

In Denmark, convicts have to enroll in education, job or treatment programs while they are in jail. Furthermore, there is a special restorative focus on the youth, as they are more vulnerable and susceptible to influences of radicalization and extremism. They, for example, benefit from shorter sentences and diversion to the welfare authorities.

Denmark is the fourth best in the world at rehabilitating convicts into society, with only 29 percent of convicts returning to jail within two years.

Local governments play a significant role in creating an enabling environment for the implementation of restorative justice at the provincial and district levels. This includes raising public awareness; driving effective coordination mechanism for law enforcers; and monitoring and evaluating restorative justice implementation.

Implementation of restorative justice will not only bring harmony to the conflicting parties and the community in general, but it will also improve justice for all.
____________________________

Christophe Bahuet is the UNDP Indonesia country director and Rasmus A. Kristensen is the Danish ambassador to Indonesia.