Source: Untar Public Relations – VC
“Restorative justice is an alternative approach to resolving criminal cases that emphasizes restoring relationships between offenders, victims, and society. As the frontline institution in law enforcement, the Police play a strategic role in implementing these values in Indonesia,” stated promovendus Hasoloan Situmorang during an open doctoral defense held by the Doctoral Program in Law at Untar on Saturday (06/06/2026) at Untar Campus I.
During the session, Dr. Hasoloan Situmorang, who currently serves as Head of Sub-Directorate I of the Narcotics Investigation Directorate of the Southwest Papua Regional Police (Kasubdit I Ditresnarkoba Polda Papua Barat Daya) (IIIA2), successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Police Restorative Justice Values in the Resolution of Criminal Offenses in Indonesia.” He was subsequently awarded the title of Doctor of Law, becoming Untar’s 68th doctoral graduate in law. The examination was chaired by Untar Rector Prof. Dr. Amad Sudiro, S.H., M.H., M.Kn., M.M., who also served as the promovendus’ principal promoter.
In his presentation, the promovendus examined the implementation of restorative justice values by the Police, the legal certainty surrounding their application, and the formulation of such principles within Law No. 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police.
The study found that restorative justice reflects a new paradigm of law enforcement that emphasizes social recovery and is consistent with the principle of ultimum remedium, whereby criminal sanctions are used as a last resort. Its implementation has been facilitated through Indonesian National Police Regulation No. 8 of 2021, which governs the non-litigation resolution of criminal cases while upholding the principle of due process of law.
“The regulation establishes the requirements, procedures, and limits of authority, enabling police discretion to be exercised fairly, transparently, and in a measurable manner. However, its implementation has yet to provide full legal certainty because it is not explicitly and comprehensively regulated under Law No. 2 of 2002,” the promovendus explained.
The research also found that this situation has led to inconsistencies, multiple interpretations, and potential disparities in practice. Philosophically, restorative justice values are already reflected in the Police’s functions of protection and public service. However, from a juridical perspective, their implementation still relies heavily on discretionary authority without adequate normative parameters and oversight mechanisms.
Therefore, the study emphasizes the need for stronger regulatory frameworks to ensure legal certainty, consistency, and the effective implementation of restorative justice within Indonesia’s criminal justice system. (VC/YS)