Implementation of Restorative Justice Efforts for Children as Criminals from A Progressive Legal Perspective
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Abstract
This study aims to analyze the implementation of restorative justice for juvenile offenders from the perspective of progressive law within the Indonesian juvenile criminal justice system. Restorative justice is conceptualized as a conflict-resolution approach that prioritizes the restoration of relationships between offenders, victims, and the community through participatory dialogue and consensus-based mechanisms. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach using a literature review method combined with a juridical–empirical perspective by examining legal regulations, policy documents, and scholarly works related to juvenile justice. The scope of the study focuses on the regulatory framework and practical implementation of diversion as stipulated in Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System and Supreme Court Regulation Number 4 of 2014. The findings indicate that Indonesia’s legal framework has formally incorporated restorative justice through diversion mechanisms that involve offenders, victims, families, and community representatives in resolving juvenile criminal cases. Nevertheless, the practical implementation of this approach still encounters several challenges, including institutional limitations, insufficient capacity among law enforcement officials, and societal legal culture that remains predominantly punitive. As a result, the restorative justice mechanism has not yet fully realized its intended goal of restoring social harmony and ensuring the best interests of the child. This study recommends strengthening institutional capacity within the juvenile justice system, enhancing the competence of law enforcement officials in facilitating diversion processes, and promoting public legal awareness regarding restorative justice values. This research contributes theoretically by reinforcing the relevance of progressive legal thought in the juvenile justice system while offering a critical analysis of the gap between the normative design of restorative justice and its practical implementation in Indonesia.
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