A Critical Analysis of Restorative Justice in Indonesia's Criminal Justice System: from Punishment to Restoration

This study aims to investigate how Indonesia's criminal justice system has changed from a retributive to a restorative justice paradigm. In particular, it examines how restorative justice has been integrated into the stages of investigation, prosecution, and trial, identifies the obstacles to its application, and assesses its viability as a long-term alternative to achieving substantive justice, legal certainty, and social reconciliation. This study employed the normative juridical method, which focuses on written laws and regulations that govern community life. Through laws such as Prosecutor's Regulation No. 15 of 2020 and the Supreme Court decision No. 1691/DJU/SK/PS.00/12/2020, the analysis reveals that Indonesia's regulatory structure supports restorative justice at three distinct levels: investigation, prosecution, and adjudication. Despite the lack of a statutory framework, there has been an operational shift towards restorative justice as evidenced by the more than 2,400 cases that have been settled utilising this legal paradigm as of 2023. A change in the law from a focus on retaliation to one of reconciliation is evident in the growing use of restorative justice. The absence of comprehensive legislation and conservative law enforcement cultures that prioritize positivist legal norms are two issues that still exist, nevertheless. Systemic changes, including public education, capacity building, and legislative support, are necessary for restorative justice to be long-lasting