The shift in Indonesia's correctional paradigm through Law No. 22 of 2022 on Corrections marks a significant move toward restorative and rehabilitative approaches. Yet a persistent gap remains in the handling of juvenile offenders: the legal system continues to overlook deep-seated psychological drivers that lie at the root of delinquent behavior. This study examines the legal policy of corrections based on restorative justice, focusing particularly on childhood traumacommonly referred to as "inner child" wounds and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as primary catalysts of juvenile crime. Employing a qualitative normative-empirical method, this research investigates how restorative justice can be reconceptualized beyond mere procedural diversion to function as a genuine rehabilitative instrument that addresses psychosocial deficits. Findings reveal that while current legal frameworks particularly Law No. 11 of 2012 on the Juvenile Criminal Justice System and Law No. 22 of 2022 on Corrections provide a normatively solid foundation for diversion and social reintegration, they lack specific operational protocols for trauma-informed care within the Special Juvenile Correctional Institution (LPKA). The research concludes that integrating psychological restoration into the restorative justice framework, through institutionalized trauma-informed correctional care, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and sustained parental engagement, is essential for reducing recidivism and producing lasting rehabilitative outcomes
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