Tri Hita Karana as a Restorative Justice Model: A Case Study of Decision No. 247/PID.B/2009/PN.Pwt

Ni Made Gian Sari Astiti (Ganesha University of Education)
Made Sugi Hartono (Fakultas Program Pascasarjana, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha Singaraja,)
Abd Razak Bin Zakaria (Department of Educational Foundations and Humanities, Faculty of Education Office of The, University of Malaya)

Kertha Patrika
Vol. 48 No. 2 (2026): Contemporary Challenges in Law: Comparative Perspectives on Justice, Legal Pro

This study aims to examine the concept of Tri Hita Karana (THK) as a restorative justice model within Indonesia's criminal justice system through an analysis of Court Decision No. 247/Pid.B/2009/PN.Pwt concerning the case of Grandmother Minah. Using normative legal research with a case approach and a conceptual approach, this study analyses how THK may serve as a philosophical foundation for restorative justice and explores the implications of integrating its values into legal regulations and law enforcement practices in resolving minor criminal offences involving vulnerable groups. The findings indicate that the judicial decision in Grandmother Minah's case reflects a predominantly formalistic and retributive approach that fails to fully achieve substantive justice. In contrast, the principles of Parahyangan, Pawongan, and Palemahan embodied in THK promote reconciliation, social harmony, and the restoration of relationships, which are consistent with the objectives of restorative justice. This study argues that integrating THK into Indonesia's criminal justice system may encourage a paradigm shift from punitive law enforcement toward restorative justice while strengthening legal protection for vulnerable communities. Accordingly, THK offers a culturally grounded philosophical framework that can contribute to future criminal law reform in Indonesia.