Criminologist Warns Bounty Policy for Street Crime Could Fuel Vigilantism

A University of Indonesia criminologist, Adrianus Meliala, has warned that a policy offering rewards for capturing street criminals could trigger vigilantism and endanger public safety. He stressed that apprehending perpetrators is the authority of law enforcement, while the public’s role should be limited to prevention.

Adrianus stated that the public should not be encouraged to take over the function of arresting criminals. He argued that local governments and the police already possess adequate capacity to perform their duties. “I hold a conservative view; the community’s domain is prevention. Arrest and investigation are the state’s business, in this case, the police. Nowadays, local governments and the police have more than sufficient capability. If they are unable to do it, it is because they are afflicted by bureaucratic disease,” he said on Monday.

He assessed that calls for residents to capture street criminals must be viewed with caution, as they risk placing citizens in dangerous situations. “The call for the public to catch street criminals clearly must be watched out for because it could turn citizens into victims,” he stated.

Adrianus also criticised the provision of rewards or competitions for residents who successfully apprehend criminals. According to him, such incentives could foster a culture of vigilantism and bounty hunting within society. “Especially with the existence of a competition. It will actually give rise to vigilantism and a bounty hunter habit. If that happens, it is the public who will suffer the headache,” he asserted.

The remarks come after West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi launched a policy offering rewards ranging from Rp5 million to Rp50 million for residents who manage to capture robbers, muggers, thieves, or bandits alive and hand them over to the police. The policy was intended to boost public participation in maintaining security but has sparked debate. Some view it as a way to strengthen community assistance to authorities in eradicating crime, while others fear it could encourage mob justice, endanger residents, and create legal problems in cases of wrongful arrest or excessive force.