Two Prisons In South Sumatra Appointed As Correctional Information Agents

PALEMBANG - Two prisons (prisons) within the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) of South Sumatra (Sumsel) were appointed as pilot work units as information agents and correctional publications.

"The two prisons are Palembang Class I prison and Palembang Class II A Women's Prison as part of the 57 pilot satkers (work units) selected from 586 prisons, detention centers, LPKA and Fathers throughout Indonesia," said Head of the South Sumatra Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office Ilham Djaya in Palembang, Saturday, September 9.

As an information agent and correctional publication, he said, the two pilot satkers were required to convey program information and the results of prison performance. Even when there is a crisis, the two satkers are required to be able to clarify and communicate.

This was in accordance with instructions from the Director General of Corrections at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Reynhard Silitonga, when inaugurating a pilot satker for information agents and correctional publications some time ago.

Based on data from the Directorate General of Corrections, throughout 2023 there were 103,954 positive prison news that had been published through the media. However, there are still 2,478 negative news that have circulated in the community that can trigger a communication crisis in prisons.

"I appreciate all ranks of prisons in South Sumatra who are not tired of publishing positive news of correctional facilities, especially public relations operators in all satkers," he said.

Even though there is still negative news, he continued, it makes all ranks responsible for performing well and being able to communicate in crisis situations.

According to the former Head of the Red Mata Palembang, the crisis situation that occurred could have an impact on organizations, public safety, damage to material property, and loss of reputation and public trust.

For this reason, he said, crisis communication management is needed by all Heads of Correctional UPT to carry out detection and mitigation as soon as possible, especially on issues or crisis situations that start from pre-crisis, crisis, to post-crisis.

"I remind all ranks of prisons to be able to improve better coordination and communication governance, especially in crisis situations," he said.

According to him, building a positive image in the prison satker is not only the task of public relations makers, but the duties of all levels of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights who serve in prison.

"The Head of the Correctional Technical Implementation Unit and the Head of the Correctional Division is also public relations in conveying information about correctional to the community," said Kakanwil Ilham.