Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies
Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Indonesia J. Crim. L. Studies (May, 2026)

Reconciliation in Modern Penal Policy: a Strategy for Removing Guilt and Criminal Responsibility

Umi Rozah (Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro)
Heru Susetyo (Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia)
Aldi Yudistira (Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro)
Jaco Barkhuizen (Science in Policing and Security, Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 May 2026

Abstract

The Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP), enacted on December 6, 2022, establishes the principles of guilt and criminal responsibility in Article 36, while simultaneously expanding the scope of criminal liability beyond the requirement of the offender's fault. This provision opens the possibility of imposing criminal liability without fault (strict liability). In relation to the termination of prosecution, the KUHP also accommodates the settlement of disputes outside the court through a reconciliation mechanism. The inclusion of this provision has encouraged the researcher to examine the fundamental idea of out-of-court dispute resolution through reconciliation, and to conceptualize the ideal mechanism of reconciliation as a penal policy for eliminating guilt and criminal responsibility within the framework of modern penal policy. This study employs a normative juridical approach. The findings indicate, first, that the fundamental idea of out-of-court dispute resolution through reconciliation lies in harmonization, the protection of victims, and the avoidance of the negative impacts of imprisonment. Second, the reconciliation mechanism must be carefully considered, and this research proposes a categorization of out-of-court dispute resolution in order to provide legal certainty.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijcls

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

The Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies (IJCLS) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that primarily focuses on comparative criminal law. The journal serves as a platform for scholarly discourse and critical analysis of criminal law systems across different ...