House Commission XIII to Summon Law Enforcement for Prison Reform Talks

Jakarta - Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission XIII, Willy Aditya, has announced that the commission will summon law enforcement agencies, including the National Police, the Attorney General’s Office, and the judiciary, to discuss issues within the prison system through a special working committee.

Speaking at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, Willy Aditya stated that the presence of these law enforcement institutions is necessary to conduct a more comprehensive review of problems within correctional facilities. He noted that prisons represent the final stage of the legal process, while the initial stages begin with law enforcement agencies.

He cited a saying: “If you want to see the true character of a person, give them power, but if you want to see the true character of a nation, look at its prisons.”

“We must not allow inmates who were not convicted of drug offences to become drug dealers after their release. In a closed environment, the law of nature applies: you either influence or are influenced,” he said.

Furthermore, he requested an explanation regarding the issue of the prison database system, which is currently not accessible in real time. He pointed out that 15 years ago, the system was capable of displaying data in real time.

“This is so we do not keep opening Pandora’s box, so we are not trapped in a perpetual vicious cycle involving drugs, the database system, and hidden crimes,” he concluded.