Exploring the Justice Paradox in Clemency for Narcotics Convicts: A Case Study of Banyuasin Class IIB Prison

Dodis Nikmatulo; Ruben Achmad; Arief Wisnu Wardhana

doi:10.30996/mk.v18i2.13055

Authors

Dodis Nikmatulo Universitas Muhamadiyah Palembang, Indonesia
Ruben Achmad Universitas Muhamadiyah Palembang, Indonesia
Arief Wisnu Wardhana Universitas Muhamadiyah Palembang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30996/mk.v18i2.13055

Keywords:

clemency, narcotics, retributive justice, restorative justice

Abstract

The granting of clemency as a presidential prerogative within the Indonesian legal system has sparked considerable debate, particularly when applied to narcotics offenders classified as perpetrators of hard crimes. This study examines the case of Muhammad Aldin Purwanto, a narcotics convict who was granted clemency in the form of sentence reduction, despite having previously been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for acting as an intermediary in the sale of a Schedule I narcotic substance. Clemency was granted on the grounds of good behavior and his role as the primary breadwinner for his family. This research aims to analyze the granting of clemency within the framework of justice, employing a normative juridical method with both conceptual and case study approaches. The study reveals a tension between the principle of retributive justice, which demands proportionate punishment for criminal acts, and the restorative justice approach, which emphasizes offender rehabilitation. The clemency granted in this case presents both a moral and legal dilemma, as it may be interpreted as a denial of retributive justice and a dilution of the meaning of criminal responsibility. The findings suggest that the absence of clear parameters for granting clemency creates vulnerabilities to policy deviation, potentially undermining the legitimacy of the criminal justice system itself. Therefore, a reformulation of clemency policy is necessary through clearer legal regulation, grounded in justice-based principles. Clemency should be guided by rational, objective, and balanced legal considerations that weigh both the rights of the convict and the public sense of justice.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Allais, Lucy. “Social Justice and Retributive Justice.” Social Dynamics 34, no. 2 (September 2008): 128–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/02533950802278497.

Arrosyid, Ahmad Harun, and Ahmad Hidayatullah Zaarkasyi. “Kekuasaan Presiden Dalam Pemberian Grasi Menurut Hukum Positif Indonesia.” Ijtihad : Jurnal Hukum Dan Ekonomi Islam 12, no. 2 (September 10, 2018): 141–51. https://doi.org/10.21111/ijtihad.v12i2.3022.

Athaya, Shafa, Belliana Herlina, and Mochamad Habibii. “Implementasi Filsafat Hukum Dalam Keadilan Restoratif: Strategi Inovatif Untuk Penanganan Kasus Narkotika.” MOTEKAR: Jurnal Multidisiplin Teknologi Dan Arsitektur 2, no. 1 (May 1, 2024): 343–50. https://doi.org/10.57235/motekar.v2i1.2323.

Barkow, Rachel E., and Mark Osler. “Clemency.” Annual Review of Criminology 7, no. 1 (January 26, 2024): 311–27. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-022222-040514.

Cayo, Putri Sari Nilam. “Upaya Hukum Grasi Di Dalam Pelaksanaan Pemidanaan Di Indonesia.” Lex Librum : Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 10, no. 1 (June 20, 2017). https://doi.org/10.46839/lljih.v10i1.847.

Dewi, Wijayanti Puspita. “Penjatuhan Pidana Penjara Atas Tindak Pidana Narkotika Oleh Hakim Di Bawah Ketentuan Minimum Ditinjau Dari Undang-Undang Nomor 35 Tahun 2009 Tentang Narkotika.” Jurnal Hukum Magnum Opus 2, no. 1 (February 1, 2019): 55. https://doi.org/10.30996/jhmo.v2i2.2181.

Fitri, Eki, and Dheny Wahyudhi. “Mekanisme Pemberian Remisi Narapidana Koruptor Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 22 Tahun 2022 Tentang Pemasyarakatan.” PAMPAS: Journal of Criminal Law 4, no. 2 (July 31, 2023): 201–12. https://doi.org/10.22437/pampas.v4i2.26990.

Flora, Henny Saida. “Keadilan Restoratif Sebagai Alternatif Dalam Penyelesaian Tindak Pidana Dan Pengaruhnya Dalam Sistem Peradilan Pidana Di Indonesia.” University of Bengkulu Law Journal 3, no. 2 (October 25, 2018): 142–58. https://doi.org/10.33369/ubelaj.3.2.142-158.

Heise, Michael. “Mercy by the Numbers: An Empirical Analysis of Clemency and Its Structure.” Virginia Law Review 89, no. 2 (April 2003): 239. https://doi.org/10.2307/3202434.

Hijrin, Al, Muhammad Sajidin, M Ikhwanul Fiaturrahman, and M Imam Zarkasi Asadillah. “Formulasi Kebijakan Pemberian Remisi Terhadap Narapidana Ditinjau Dari Aspek Politik Hukum.” Journal Kompilasi Hukum 6, no. 2 (December 15, 2021). https://doi.org/10.29303/jkh.v6i2.77.

Imdadurrouf, Imdadurrouf. “Grasi Dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam Dan Hukum Positif Indonesia.” Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam 4, no. 1 (June 22, 2010): 23–39. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v4i1.3663.

Isvany, Andi Lulu, Muh. Fachrur Razy Mahka, Andi Ismayana Wahid, and Andi Ashadi Amrullah. “Peninjauan Hukum Pidana Narkotika Di Indonesia: Tantangan, Dampak, Dan Upaya Melindungi Generasi Muda.” Indonesian Journal of Legality of Law 7, no. 1 (December 30, 2024): 109–14. https://doi.org/10.35965/ijlf.v7i1.5463.

Jerimas Pelokilla. “UUD 1945 Sebagai Landasan Konstitusional Terhadap Perlindungan Hak Warga Negara Indonesia.” JOCER: Journal of Civic Education Research 1, no. 1 (June 30, 2023): 24–28. https://doi.org/10.60153/jocer.v1i1.11.

Knoll, Manuel Andreas. “The Meaning of Distributive Justice for Aristotle’s Theory of Constitutions.” ΠΗΓΗ/FONS 1 (February 26, 2016): 57–97. https://doi.org/10.20318/fons.2016.2529.

Morison, Samuel T. “The Politics of Grace: On the Moral Justification of Executive Clemency.” Buffalo Criminal Law Review 9, no. 1 (April 1, 2005): 1–138. https://doi.org/10.1525/nclr.2005.9.1.1.

Moss, Simon A., Eunro Lee, Alan Berman, and Daile Rung. “When Do People Value Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice Over the Punishment of Offenders?” Victims & Offenders 14, no. 1 (January 2, 2019): 32–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2018.1539688.

Nasution, Armando Wijaya, Yamin Lubis, and Mukidi Mukidi. “Aspek Yuridis Program Pemberian Remisi Terhadap Narapidana Narkotika Dan Psikotropika Pada Lembaga Pemasyaratakan Kelas Ii B Tebing Tinggi.” Jurnal Meta Hukum 2, no. 3 (November 30, 2023): 103–14. https://doi.org/10.47652/jmh.v2i3.451.

Nugraha, Maulana Fuad, and Robert Antonio. “Drug Abuse in the Young Generation: Law Enforcement Challenges (Comparative Study of Indonesia and Australia).” Journal of Creativity Student 7, no. 1 (January 30, 2022): 19–34. https://doi.org/10.15294/jcs.v7i1.36177.

Okimoto, Tyler G., Michael Wenzel, and N. T. Feather. “Retribution and Restoration as General Orientations towards Justice.” European Journal of Personality 26, no. 3 (May 1, 2012): 255–75. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.831.

Rachman, Fathur. “Pemberian Remisi Dan Manfaat Bagi Perbaikan Perilaku Terpidana.” Justicia Sains: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 3, no. 1 (June 18, 2018). https://doi.org/10.24967/jcs.v3i1.357.

Rosidi, Ahamad, Muhammad Zainuddin, and Ismi Arifiana. “Metode Dalam Penelitian Hukum Normatif Dan Sosiologis (Field Research).” Journal Law and Government 2, no. 1 (February 27, 2024). https://doi.org/10.31764/jlag.v2i1.21606.

Ryberg, Jesper. “Retributivism and the (Lack of) Justification of Proportionality.” Criminal Law and Philosophy 15, no. 3 (October 11, 2021): 447–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11572-021-09579-4.

Sari, Asih Puspo. “Pemberian Grasi Dan Maaf Dalam Bingkai Kajian Teoritik Tindak Pidana Pembunuhan (Studi Komparatif Hukum Positif Dan Hukum Islam).” Al-Ahkam Jurnal Ilmu Syari’ah Dan Hukum 5, no. 1 (September 30, 2020): 73–90. https://doi.org/10.22515/al-ahkam.v5i1.2474.

Sari, Yusmita, Yusuf Saefudin, and Farhani Nabiha Binti Mohd Yazi. “Restorative Justice in Drug Abuse Cases: An Effort to Effective Social Rehabilitation.” Jurnal Hukum Sasana 9, no. 2 (March 29, 2024): 413–24. https://doi.org/10.31599/k0wj5z78.

Sujatmiko, Sujatmiko, and Willy Wibowo. “Urgensi Pembentukan Regulasi Grasi, Amnesti, Abolisi Dan Rehabilitasi.” Jurnal Penelitian Hukum De Jure 21, no. 1 (February 22, 2021): 91. https://doi.org/10.30641/dejure.2021.V21.91-108.

Tobing, Sarah Angelina Setiahata Lumban. “Pemberian Grasi Terhadap Terpidana Mati Pengedar Narkotika.” Jurnal Global Ilmiah 1, no. 2 (November 28, 2023): 101–7. https://doi.org/10.55324/jgi.v1i2.14.

Wibowo, Aryo, Zahra Syahlahaifa, and Asmak Hosnah. “Penerapan Grasi Dalam Perspektif Hukum Pidana Bagi Terdakwa.” Jurnal Hukum Pelita 5, no. 1 (May 31, 2024): 43–51. https://doi.org/10.37366/jh.v5i1.3242.

Widiartana, Gregorius. “Paradigma Keadilan Restoratif Dalam Penanggulangan Kejahatan Dengan Menggunakan Hukum Pidana.” Justitia et Pax 33, no. 1 (November 30, 2017). https://doi.org/10.24002/jep.v33i1.1418.

Wirawan, A.Rachmat, and Avelyn Pingkan Komuna. “Pengampunan Pidana Dalam Mewujudkan Keadilan, Kepastian, Dan Kemanfaatan.” Jurnal Humaya: Jurnal Hukum, Humaniora, Masyarakat, Dan Budaya 1, no. 1 (June 30, 2021): 10–15. https://doi.org/10.33830/humaya.v1i1.1863.2021.

Yuliantari, Dwi Tania Wista, Amiruddin Amiruddin, and Ufran Ufran. “Pemberian Amnesti Dalam Kasus Pidana ITE Oleh Presiden Melalui Keputusan Presiden (Keppres).” Kertha Semaya: Journal Ilmu Hukum 10, no. 4 (April 5, 2022): 861. https://doi.org/10.24843/KS.2022.v10.i04.p12.