Most Assimilated Prisoners Arrested In Central Java, West Java And North Sumatra

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The number of assimilated prisoners who returned to mischief reached 106 out of 38,882 people. Based on the data, they were mostly recaptured in three cities, Central Java, West Java and North Sumatra.

Head of Penum for the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Kombes Ahmad Ramadhan, said that hundreds of prisoners were arrested again in almost all cities in Indonesia. However, only those three cities were more numerous.

"There are 13 assimilated convicts in Central Java and North Sumatra who have committed another crime, 11 assimilated convicts in West Java. The 3 regions show the highest number of repeated crimes by assimilated prisoners," said Ahmad in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 12.

Referring to the existing data, hundreds of prisoners were mostly involved in street crimes. They were caught or proven to be involved in theft and robbery. In addition, some of them were also arrested for being involved in narcotics abuse cases.

In fact, the assimilated prisoners are very dangerous for children. The crime of child sexual abuse is one of the acts they have committed.

"The types of crimes commonly committed by assimilated prisoners according to data are theft with weight (curas), theft with power (curas), curanmor, drug abuse, abuse and sexual abuse of children," said Ahmad.

Previously, the Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasona Laoly, through the Director General of Corrections, Reynhard Silitonga, said that the assimilated prisoners who returned to act were only 0.2 percent of the total 38,882 prisoners. In addition, the number of recidivists in Indonesia is lower when compared to other countries.

For that, the public does not need to worry about the assimilation policy. Moreover, correctional institutions (prisons) are places to foster criminals to behave better, not just places to give punishment.

University of Indonesia criminologist Adrianus Meliala agreed with an assimilation program aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and detention centers. Based on the data, only 55 prisoners returned to acting up and all of them have been prosecuted by the police.

"You could say that (the assimilation was successful). What is certain is that Indonesia's profile (recidivist figures) is no different from the world profile," Adrianus told VOI, Friday, May 8.

However, Adrianus said that the public was still worried about the presence of assimilated prisoners in their midst. This worry, said Adrianus, was due to the society's paradigm of prisoners. Those who have served time in prison are always viewed negatively by the community.

"People have always viewed prisoners as criminals who will not recover. After leaving the prison, they are still labeled as criminals. There are still suspicions everywhere. So, it is only natural that now," said Adrianus.

Kemenkumham released some prisoners and children to prevent the spread of the corona virus or COVID-19. The release of some of the prisoners will go through assimilation and parole.

This is in accordance with the decree number M.HH -19.PK.01.04.04. The year 2020, which contains the release and release of prisoners and children through assimilation and integration, is an effort to prevent and rescue prisoners and children who are in Corrections, Special Guidance Institutions for Children, and State Detention Centers from the spread of COVID-19.

However, there are several provisions or other rules for prisoners and children who will be released through assimilation. First, for inmates who have two-thirds of their sentence falls on December 31, 2020 and then for children who have half the sentence falls on December 31, 2020.

The second requirement, namely, that the prisoner and child are not bound by Government Regulation Number 99 of 2012 concerning Terms and Procedures for the Implementation of the Rights of Correctional Assistance and are not undergoing a subsidiary, and are not foreign citizens.

Meanwhile, the provisions for prisoners and children who are released by means of integration, namely parole, parole and leave prior to freedom are prisoners who have served two-thirds of their sentence. Meanwhile, children are those who have served half of their sentence.