The urgency of updating the approach in handling minor crimes is increasingly relevant amidst society's demands for a more just and humane legal system. This article aims to examine the concept of restorative justice as an alternative for resolving minor crimes and assess its relevance to the social justice agenda in Indonesia. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach. Data was collected through literature studies, policy documentation, and in-depth interviews with law enforcement officials and community figures. The research results show that restorative justice is able to be a more efficient, inclusive and solution mechanism than the retributive approach, by prioritizing the restoration of relationships between perpetrators, victims and society. These findings strengthen restorative legal theory and provide a real contribution to the discourse on criminal law reform based on local values and social justice. In conclusion, the implementation of restorative justice has great potential to strengthen social cohesion and build a more responsive and participatory legal system. This research recommends the need to strengthen regulations and training of officials to overcome obstacles in their implementation, as well as opening up space for further exploration in a broader context.
Copyrights © 2025