Inmate Skills Behind the Uniform: Little Police Unit Impresses President Prabowo
The Junior Police (Pocil) unit from Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 28 in Pasuruan, East Java, impressed President Prabowo Subianto during the inauguration of 166 Rakyat Schools in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan in January. Few realised that the impeccable appearance of the young police unit was enhanced by the garment-making skills of inmates from Cipinang Narcotics Prison in East Jakarta.
The sky-blue uniforms worn by the Pocil unit were manufactured by rehabilitated prisoners at Cipinang Narcotics Prison through the prison’s ongoing garment development programme. “The sky-blue clothing was indeed produced by inmates within the prison,” confirmed Syarpani, Head of Cipinang Narcotics Prison Class IIA, on 27 February 2026.
A total of 57 uniform sets were produced for the children who performed before President Prabowo on 12 January, alongside 60 training outfits, all completed within three days. The entire production process, from cutting to finishing, was conducted within the prison facility. Quality control was carried out by PT Sentosa Garmindo Pratama, which maintains a daily presence at the prison.
Currently, 120 rehabilitated prisoners participate in the prison’s garment sector skills development programme. Participants must meet strict criteria: demonstrate good conduct, have completed at least one-third of their sentences, have sentences exceeding three years, and demonstrate determination to improve.
PT Sentosa Garmindo Pratama has established partnerships with several other Indonesian prisons, with most production processes conducted within prison facilities as part of the rehabilitation and independence-building initiative. The inmate-produced garments are competitive in quality, with the prison continuously implementing improvements and innovations. Programme participants receive certification upon passing competency examinations.
The quality of inmate-made garments has been showcased at various public exhibitions, including the IPPA Fest 2025. Beyond garments, the prison produces handcrafted items using CNC laser cutting machines, creating decorative pieces and household equipment.
Looking ahead, the prison aims to expand the programme to absorb more inmates whilst creating partnerships with additional organisations. The overarching objective is to reduce post-release unemployment whilst enabling inmate-produced goods to compete effectively in national and international markets. According to Syarpani, the programme provides genuine positive impact and benefit to society, enabling inmates to reintegrate as reformed individuals capable of competing with major domestic and international brands.