UPAYA KEPOLISIAN DALAM MENYELESAIKAN PERKARA KECELAKAAN LALU LINTAS TABRAK LARI DENGAN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DI WILAYAH HUKUM POLRES KLUNGKUNG

Hit-and-run traffic accidents may be resolved through a restorative justice approach, as regulated by the Regulation of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police Number 8 of 2021. This concept involves the offender, the victim, their families, and community leaders in order to reach a fair resolution and restore the situation to its original state. This research aims to analyze the legal framework and police efforts in resolving hit-and-run cases through restorative justice within the jurisdiction of Klungkung Police Department (Polres Klungkung). The research employs an empirical legal method with a sociological approach (law in action), focusing on community behavior and the effectiveness of legal norms in practice. The results indicate that the efforts undertaken by Klungkung Police conform to the aforementioned regulation, particularly by conducting mediations involving the concerned parties until a consensus is reached. This approach offers a more equitable solution, benefiting not only the victim but also the offender and the community at large. In conclusion, the restorative justice mechanism enables offenders to acknowledge their wrongdoing, apologize, and provide compensation to the victim, thereby promoting a more humane and rehabilitative form of justice. Despite existing challenges such as the dominance of retributive criminal justice and societal resistance, Klungkung Police continue to enhance implementation through investigation, mediation, and public education to increase awareness of restorative justice in traffic accident cases.