National Elderly Day, 560 Elderly Prisoners Receive Sentence Reduction
JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas) granted a Remission of Age Over 70 Years to 560 elderly prisoners (elderly) to coincide with the 2026 National Elderly Day on today, May 29.
Director General of Corrections Mashudi said the granting of remission for elderly prisoners was part of a more humane approach to corrections as regulated in Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code and Law Number 22 of 2022 concerning Corrections.
The reduction in detention period applies to those who behave well, actively participate in the training program, experience chronic or prolonged illness until they have shown a decrease in the level of risk.
"The granting of remission based on old age is a form of humanitarian attention that has previously been a practice and strengthened by regulations. The goal is motivation and guidance, as well as showing the state's attention to elderly prisoners. The new Criminal Code also emphasizes more humane sentencing, not only retribution, but focuses on rehabilitation and guidance," said Mashudi through his written statement.
The amount of remission granted varies, ranging from one to six months. In detail, 85 inmates received a one-month remission, 108 inmates received a two-month remission, 170 inmates received a three-month remission, 96 inmates received a four-month remission, 79 inmates received a five-month remission, and 22 inmates received a six-month remission.
Based on the region, the largest number of remission recipients came from the West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs with 73 people. Then the East Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs with 63 people and the North Sumatra Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs with 39 people.
In addition to being a form of appreciation for good behavior during the period of imprisonment, the granting of remission also has an impact on the efficiency of state budgets. The Directorate General of Prisons recorded a total savings of inmate food costs from the policy of IDR 1.18 billion.
In addition, this remission is one form of humanitarian remission given by the state to prisoners with certain conditions.
This policy is part of the efforts of the penitentiary system which is not only oriented towards punishment, but also guidance and respect for the humanitarian aspect for inmates who have reached old age.
"With the provision of this reduction in prison terms, we hope that it will be beneficial for elderly inmates and their families in living the rest of their rehabilitation period," concluded Mashudi.