DPD: Prison Overcrowding Must Be Addressed Immediately

Semarang (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Committee I of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI, Muhdi, has stated that the overcrowding experienced by correctional institutions (lapas) is a serious issue that must be addressed immediately. Muhdi, in Semarang on Monday, conveyed that many challenges are faced by prisons, and the biggest is the problem of overcapacity. This was stated during a Working Meeting for the Inventory of Oversight Materials on the Implementation of Law Number 20 of 2022 concerning Corrections. He noted that Demak Prison in Central Java has reportedly experienced an excess of inmates reaching approximately 300 percent. “This is an extraordinary problem. Its capacity is very limited, so there needs to be an effort to handle it, including the possibility of relocation and addition of facilities,” he said. During the meeting, the DPD RI invited three prison heads considered representative of correctional conditions in Central Java, namely the Semarang Women’s Prison, Ambarawa Prison, and Demak Prison. “The three prison heads attended in person and conveyed various problems they face. This quite represents the condition of correctional institutions in Central Java,” he said. In addition, Muhdi also highlighted the high number of narcotics case inmates who re-offend after being released or become recidivists. He also revealed several other issues, such as the condition of Ambarawa Prison which still occupies a borrowed building and the unavailability of permanent medical staff in a number of prisons. “So, doctors have to be brought in from outside. This is also a quite prominent problem,” he said. According to him, prison heads face not only the problem of overcapacity, but also limited human resources, minimal budgets, and the need for career path improvements for correctional officers. Meanwhile, Head of the Semarang Women’s Prison, Darmalingganawati, proposed that drug addicts be placed more in rehabilitation centres rather than serving prison sentences. According to her, this step could be one solution to address the overcapacity problem experienced by correctional institutions. She mentioned that around 75 percent of inmates at the Semarang Women’s Prison are narcotics cases.