DPR: Restorative Justice Must Be an Integral Part of Case Handling

A member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), I Wayan Sudirta, is encouraging the police force to continue strengthening legal services oriented towards protecting the rights of the public and to prioritise a restorative justice approach in resolving cases. This was conveyed by Wayan Sudirta during a visit from the Karangasem Police Chief, AKBP I Made Santika, and his staff in Bali. The meeting was used to exchange views on handling various legal issues and social conflicts occurring in Karangasem Regency. During the occasion, the Karangasem Police Chief presented a number of issues that were successfully handled through a persuasive approach and mediation. Some of these included boundary disputes, a theft case against a priest in Budakeling, disruption to the internet system, and customary conflicts that had drawn public attention. One of the highlighted conflicts was the issue in Bugbug Traditional Village. According to Made, the situation in the area has begun to stabilise following various mediation efforts. In the near future, the local community is even scheduled to hold a mass cremation ceremony as a symbol of the restoration of fraternal relations. Wayan Sudirta appreciated the Karangasem Police’s steps in prioritising dialogical conflict resolution. According to him, the police are not only tasked with enforcing the law but also with maintaining social harmony within the community. As a member of Commission III of the DPR RI, Wayan emphasised that regulatory changes have strengthened the protection of public rights while increasing the accountability of law enforcement officers. He stated that to protect the rights of the public, both as reporters and reported parties in a case, the police are now under supervision through the Criminal Procedure Code. Police officers can face ethical sanctions, administrative sanctions, and even criminal sanctions. ‘Therefore, as long as they are within the legal corridor and exercising their authority according to the law, police officers should not hesitate to provide services to the public,’ Wayan said in a statement on Monday, 3 August 2026. He further explained that the new Criminal Procedure Code also strengthens the application of restorative justice so that the resolution of criminal cases does not always end in punishment. ‘For members of the public in legal conflict, so that punishment is not absolute, restorative justice is now regulated,’ said the PDI Perjuangan faction legislator.