Highlighting the State of Correctional Institutions in Indonesia After the Prisoner Assimilation Policy in The Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to show the condition of correctional institutions in Indonesia after the Covid-19 outbreak, where at that time the government implemented an assimilation policy as a limitation on social distancing.
 
 Theoretical framework: The problem of criminal implementation in Indonesia has received ongoing attention. The implementation of punishment should be adjusted to correctional standards in accordance with correctional objectives which cannot be separated from the rights of prisoners which are difficult to achieve in conditions of overcapacity.
 
 Design/methodology/approach: This research is qualitative by drawing conclusions based on the orientation of data output from the Indonesian Directorate General of Corrections. Where the author will provide conclusions on the condition of correctional institutions after the 2020 assimilation policy, which has pros and cons in society, whether it will have a positive effect in the long term or not. If we refer to global correctional standards, the amount of capacity is the basis for assessing the achievement of correctional goals.
 
 Findings: Based on Permenkumham Number 32 of 2020 regarding assimilation as a policy to limit social distancing and protect the rights of prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been shown that something that is considered a good answer to the overcapacity of prisons in almost all regional offices in Indonesia is in fact not providing significant change. Data from correctional institutions in all provincial regional offices in Indonesia shows that the total number of inmates in 2019 was 199,965 inmates, in 2020 there were 205,484 and in 2022 there were 225,877 inmates with a maximum capacity of 137,031.
 
 Research, Practical & Social implications: The problem of criminal implementation is in the spotlight due to overcapacity in almost all correctional institutions. It would be best for the government, in this case the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, to look for alternatives to criminal enforcement in the future.
 
 Originality/value: The research results show that the condition of prisons after the Covid-19 pandemic has not shown any changes to date. The hope of assimilation as an answer to the problem of overcapacity is not in line with the large number of prisoners held in 33 provinces as regional offices implementing corrections.