<![CDATA[ This study analyzes the implementation of the State Attorney's (Jaksa Pengacara Negara/JPN) function in credit mediation at the Nganjuk District Prosecutor's Office, specifically regarding constitutional legal consciousness and citizen protection. Employing a qualitative socio-legal approach, this study involved 24 informants selected through purposive sampling—debtors (N=12), debtor's family (N=3), JPNs (N=4), BRI representatives (N=3), and academics/advocates (N=2)—through in-depth interviews, complemented by observation and documentary analysis. Data were analyzed thematically; credibility was strengthened through triangulation and member checking. Findings reveal significant ambiguity among debtors regarding the Prosecutor's Office's status and function in mediation, often mistakenly perceived as a criminal process. The symbolic power of the Prosecutor's Office, even in a civil capacity, was perceived by debtors as pressure that undermined their sense of voluntariness in mediation; this reflects perceived symbolic pressure rather than evidence of actual legal coercion. Asymmetric legal consciousness was also identified, with debtors having limited or confused understanding of the JPN's role, in contrast to JPNs and BRI who understood the JPN's civil mandate. Although the JPN's involvement is legally recognized, its implementation raised questions about constitutional legitimacy concerning citizen protection, interpreted here cautiously from informants' accounts. This study extends theories of state power and constitutional legal consciousness by positioning institutional role ambiguity and symbolic power as complementary mechanisms shaping citizens' perceptions in civil disputes. The implication is a need for reconstructing JPN practice to be more citizen-oriented, emphasizing transparency, debtor rights education, and independent complaint mechanisms to strengthen citizen protection and ensure fair, voluntary mediation.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
