Shadow Justice and the Role of Informal Legal Systems in Urban Marginal Communities

Helen Intania Surayda (Universitas Semarang)
Randy Vallentino Neonbeni (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Hukum Cendana Wangi)
Andi Khaedhir Kamri (Universitas Halu Oleo)

Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST)
Vol. 4 No. 9 (2025): September 2025

This study analyzes the role of informal legal systems in shaping alternative justice practices in urban marginalized communities and their interaction with formal law. Using a qualitative case study with 25 informants, data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation, and analyzed interactively. The findings show that informal systems help maintain order, resolve disputes, and provide justice rooted in communal solidarity, though risks of power domination and exclusion remain. The study concludes that “shadow justice” creates a hybrid legal ecosystem reflecting social adaptation to limited formal access. Theoretically, it enriches the study of formal–informal law interaction, while practically offering insights for more inclusive legal policy.