The Single Prosecution Principle Becomes an Efficiency Breakthrough in the New Criminal Procedure Code
Jakarta – The government continues to demonstrate its commitment to reforming the national legal system through the discussion and drafting of the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). One of the key breakthroughs in the new KUHAP is the adoption of the single prosecution principle, which places the handling of criminal cases under a single, integrated chain of command. This principle is considered capable of addressing long-standing problems in law enforcement, particularly the handling of cases that have often been protracted and inefficient.
In the context of national law enforcement dynamics, the government views the renewal of the KUHAP as an urgent necessity. For years, the back-and-forth of case files between law enforcement agencies has frequently created legal uncertainty, prolonged case processing, and affected the public’s sense of justice. The new KUHAP is designed to deliver a more modern, accountable criminal justice system that prioritizes legal certainty.
Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized that the new KUHAP is part of the government’s efforts to realize a progressive and efficient criminal justice system.
“The new KUHAP is designed to respond to future law enforcement challenges by emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and the protection of human rights, without reducing the firmness of the state in enforcing the law,” Supratman said.
He added that integrating case-handling processes would accelerate case resolution while improving the overall quality of law enforcement.
Deputy Minister of Law Prof. Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej highlighted the importance of an integrated criminal justice system, which forms the core spirit of the new KUHAP. According to him, this integrated system will put an end to the practice of repeatedly returning case files, which has long been a major source of inefficiency.
“With an integrated criminal justice system, each stage of case handling becomes clearer and better coordinated, so there is no longer a tug-of-war over authority that ultimately harms justice seekers,” Edward explained.
He stressed that the single prosecution principle would strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies within a unified framework.
From the academic community, the Faculty of Law at Trisakti University views the direction of the KUHAP reform as aligned with the needs of national legal reform. Azmi Syahputra, an academic from Trisakti University’s Faculty of Law, stated that clarifying the position of prosecutors as controllers of case handling is a strategic step.
“The new KUHAP places prosecutors as the leaders and controllers of case handling, making law enforcement processes more focused, effective, and free from overlap,” Azmi said.
According to him, this design is crucial to ensuring accountability and consistency in case handling from the initial stages through to trial.
In line with the various legal reform agendas currently being pursued by the government, the renewal of the KUHAP is also considered relevant to efforts to strengthen public trust in law enforcement institutions.
