608 Prisoners In East Kalimantan-Kaltara Receive Christmas Remission, 3 Are Immediately Free

Christmas 2024 remission. (Doc. ANTARA/HO-Kemenkumham Kaltim)

SAMARINDA - In the context of this year's Christmas celebration, as many as 608 Christian inmates at the State Detention Center (Rutan), Correctional Institutions (Lapas), and the Special Child Development Institution (LPKA) in East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan received remissions or reduced sentences.

Head of the Correctional Division (Kadivpas) of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) of East Kalimantan, Endang Lintang Hardiman in Samarinda, Thursday, explained that the granting of this remission was in accordance with Law Number 22 of 2022 concerning Corrections and other related regulations.

"This special Christmas mission is the right of prisoners who have met administrative and substantive requirements, such as good behavior, actively participating in coaching programs, and showing changes in positive behavior," said Endang, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, December 26.

The Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of East Kalimantan which as of January 2025 was divided into the Ministry of Law and Human Rights detailed 13 Correctional Technical Implementation Units (UPT) in East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, consisting of eight prisons, four detention centers, and one LPKA, have proposed the names of prisoners entitled to receive Christmas remissions.

The Samarinda Narcotics Prison proposed 37 people, 49 people from Samarinda Prison, three people from Tenggarong Prison, seven people from Tenggarong Women's Prison, 113 people from Bontang Prison, 37 people from Balikpapan Prison, 79 people from Tarakan Prison, and 111 people from Nunukan Prison.

Meanwhile, the Samarinda detention center proposed 28 people, 15 people from Balikpapan detention center, nine people from Tanah Grogot detention center, and 44 people from Tanjung Redeb detention center.

"From this proposal, a total of 608 Christian convicts were declared eligible and entitled to Christmas remission this year," he added.

Of the 608 inmates who received remission, three of them immediately breathed free air because their sentence had been completed.

"This remission is expected to motivate prisoners to continue to behave well, actively follow coaching programs, and become better individuals in the future," hoped Endang.

Kadivpas Endang Lintang Hardiman also symbolically monitored and handed over the Remission Decree (SK) to prisoners at Bontang Prison.

"We want to ensure that the process of granting remission runs smoothly and in accordance with applicable regulations," he said.

Endang added that special religious remissions were not only given to Christian prisoners, but also to prisoners celebrating other religious holidays.

"This remission is a form of implementation of a correctional system that is not only punishment-oriented, but also guidance and guidance to return inmates to become good and productive members of society," concluded Endang.