Deputy Minister of Law highlights community's role as key to breaking recidivism chain
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej has stressed that the role of the community is key to breaking the chain of recidivism, in line with the new paradigm in the Criminal Code (KUHP) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP).
“Rehabilitation of inmates or convicts is not solely the task of correctional institutions, but a duty for all of us,” said the man familiarly known as Eddy, as quoted from a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Previously, while attending a national seminar in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (6/5), he emphasised that the process of social reintegration to break the recidivism chain is not solely the responsibility of correctional institutions (lapas) and law enforcement apparatus.
That, Eddy said, is because successful social reintegration cannot proceed without public support.
He also assessed that the societal mindset that still views the law as a means of revenge is the biggest challenge in efforts towards more humane rehabilitation.
Furthermore, he continued, the phenomenon of recidivism is often misunderstood as a failure of rehabilitation within correctional institutions. In fact, the social stigma that continues to cling to former inmates becomes a strong factor driving them to commit violations again.
According to the Deputy Minister of Law, experience visiting hundreds of correctional institutions (lapas), state detention centres (rutan), and community guidance centres (balai pemasyarakatan or bapas) shows that not everyone inside prison is a bad person and not everyone outside prison is a good person.
He stated that this perspective serves as a reminder that second chances can only be realised if society is willing to open spaces of acceptance without prejudice.
“When I became Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, I always told inmates to broaden their hearts. If all of us here are outside prison, that we are good people, it does not mean we are good, but that Allah SWT has covered our flaws so that we appear good,” he said.