JHCLS
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System

Victim Impact Statements for Equitable Judicial Protection of Crime Victims

Bambang Prayitno (Faculty of Law, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto)
Angkasa Angkasa (Faculty of Law, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto)
Kuat Puji Prayitno (Faculty of Law, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto)
Budiyono Budiyono (Faculty of Law, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto)
Mohd Shafiee Bin Hamzah (University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu)



Article Info

Publish Date
24 Jul 2026

Abstract

Indonesia's criminal justice system prioritizes offender prosecution while Law Number 20 of 2025 introduces Victim Impact Statements to strengthen victims' rights. However, the law does not clearly regulate its substantive content, legal function, procedural mechanism, or influence on judicial decision making. This study examines the implementation of the Victim Impact Statement in the Indonesian criminal justice system, evaluates its role in strengthening legal protection for victims, and formulates an ideal integration model. The research employs an empirical legal method using statutory, case, conceptual, and comparative approaches with qualitative analysis of interviews, documents, and legal materials. The findings produce three principal conclusions. First, the existing legal framework does not comprehensively integrate the Victim Impact Statement into the Indonesian criminal justice process, resulting in inconsistent implementation and limited legal effectiveness. Second, the absence of clear substantive and procedural standards restricts judges from incorporating the Victim Impact Statement effectively into sentencing considerations and limits its contribution to victim protection. Third, Indonesia needs to establish a comprehensive normative and procedural framework that strengthens the legal position of victims, supports informed judicial decision making, promotes balanced participation between victims and offenders, and advances a more equitable and justice oriented criminal justice system

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

JHCLS

Publisher

Subject

Environmental Science Health Professions Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System is a double-blind review academic journal for Legal Studies published by Research and Social Study Institute. Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System contains several researches and reviews on selected disciplines within several branches of ...