Overcapacity Prison, Deputy Minister Of Law And Human Rights: We Are The Final Disposal Place

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej/DOK VIa ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej reiterated that the overcapacity or excess occupancy of correctional institutions (lapas) in the country is not the ministry's fault.

"Once again, I emphasize that there is no mistake from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights regarding the 'over' capacity of prisons," said Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Prof. Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej during an online discussion with the theme Fighting Prison Fires: A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Policies of the Indonesian Criminal Justice System, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, September 21.

Because, he said, the penitentiary system as a sub-system of the criminal justice system in the country is a place for "final disposal".

More specifically, the Directorate General of Corrections, which is in direct contact with prisons in the country, cannot reject someone who has been found guilty by a court who is then placed in a prison.

"The Ministry of Law and Human Rights cannot refuse the execution of the prosecutor. We are a landfill," said Prof. Eddy.

It is conceivable, he continued, that the prisons that are directly affected by the problem of excess residential capacity are prisons. However, unfortunately until now the agency has never been involved in the adjudication process.

The essence of the problem of overcapacity in prisons in the country is the substance of the law and the judicial system that likes to criminalize someone.

"This is what I say that our law enforcement officers are still struggling with the criminal law of the 'hammurabi' era," he said.

That is, criminal law is used as a means of revenge for actions committed by someone.

Seeing the current problem of overcapacity in prisons, Prof. Eddy is of the view that building a new prison or building is not the best solution. Besides being ineffective, it will also cost a lot.

"To build a prison with a standard security system will cost Rp. 300 billion," he said.

The solution, the Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights suggested changing or revising the Law on Narcotics, the Draft Law (RUU) of the Criminal Code (KUHP) and the Bill on Corrections.