Government Strengthens Public Outreach on the New Criminal Code to Promote Humane Law Enforcement

Jakarta – The government is preparing comprehensive public outreach measures for the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). This outreach is expected to enhance understanding among law enforcement officers and the public so that implementation aligns with the principles of restorative justice and human rights protection.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Law (Kemenkum), Nico Afinta, said that effective communication is the key to successful implementation, particularly in socializing the new KUHP and KUHAP.

“Kemenkum represents the face of the government in implementing the President’s Asta Cita in the legal sector. Therefore, communication is a crucial factor to ensure that all programs, including the socialization of the new KUHP and KUHAP, are fully understood by the public,” Nico emphasized.

He also warned about misinformation circulating on social media, which is often misleading. This poses a challenge that must be addressed strategically so that the new KUHP and KUHAP can be well accepted by society.

Meanwhile, Lukman Hakim, an advocate at Trunojoyo Law Firm, assessed that the new KUHP and KUHAP bring fundamental changes to the landscape of criminal law in Indonesia. He noted that these regulations mark the end of the use of the Dutch colonial-era Criminal Code, which for decades served as the foundation of national criminal law.

“This national Criminal Code is a legal product of Indonesia that is more in line with the current social and cultural conditions of society,” he said.

He also highlighted the shift in the philosophy of punishment, which now prioritizes humanitarian and restorative approaches rather than solely imprisonment.

“Punishment does not always have to mean prison. There are social sanctions and compensation, because imprisonment has proven not always to create a deterrent effect and instead contributes to prison overcrowding,” Lukman concluded.