THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FINE PENALTIES IN NARCOTICS CRIMES FOLLOWING LAW NUMBER 01 OF 2023 CONCERNING THE CRIMINAL CODE (A FIELD STUDY IN THE JURISDICTIONAL REGION OF KEDIRI REGENCY)

The goal of this research is to investigate the factors that judges take into account when imposing fines on individuals convicted of narcotics offenses under Article 112 of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics. It also seeks to explore how fine penalties are carried out if the offender is unable to make the payment after the implementation of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code. This research employs a socio-legal method with conceptual, statutory, and case approaches, as well as descriptive qualitative analysis through observation, interviews, document studies, and literature review in the jurisdictional area of the Kediri Regency District Court. The results show that the application of fine penalties still does not align with the principle of proportionality. Judges prioritize consideration of the defendant's economic capacity without adequate juridical reasoning, resulting in the majority of convicts opting for a relatively short substitute imprisonment term rather than paying an exceedingly high fine. This condition causes the objectives of sentencing, particularly deterrence, to remain unachieved. Furthermore, there is no mechanism for coercive measures to ensure the execution of fine penalties. In conclusion, the imposition of fine penalties in narcotics cases under Article 112 is ineffective and disproportionate, necessitating the strengthening of the fine execution mechanism in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 1 of 2023 to ensure more just and optimal sentencing.