Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Child Sexual Violence Based on Justice and the State’s Constitutional Responsibility

Iis Mardeli, Qadriani Arifuddin, Edi Kristianta Tarigan, Diana Rani, Ayu Efritadewi

Abstract


Child sexual violence demands state responsibility that extends beyond punishing perpetrators to preventing recidivism through rehabilitation. Although offender rehabilitation has been recognized under Indonesian positive law, differences in the scope of existing regulations raise questions regarding the proportionality of rehabilitative measures and the state's constitutional responsibility to ensure child protection. This study aims to analyze the legal framework governing the rehabilitation of perpetrators of child sexual violence from the perspectives of justice and the state's constitutional responsibility. Employing normative legal research with statutory and conceptual approaches, this study qualitatively examines primary and secondary legal materials through grammatical and systematic interpretation. The findings reveal that offender rehabilitation is regulated under the Sexual Violence Crimes Law, child protection legislation, and the correctional system, each with distinct scopes, mechanisms, and implementing authorities. Rehabilitation constitutes a measure that may proportionately accompany criminal punishment based on offenders' individual needs, without eliminating criminal liability or undermining victims' rights. The study concludes that the state's constitutional responsibility extends beyond punishment to ensuring the provision of lawful, proportionate, and appropriately structured rehabilitation aimed at the sustained protection of children. Accordingly, greater harmonization in the application of rehabilitation provisions, stronger interinstitutional coordination and oversight, and individualized assessments of offenders' needs and risks are necessary, while consistently prioritizing the best interests of the child.

Keywords


Offender Rehabilitation; Child Sexual Violence; Justice; State Constitutional Responsibility; Child Protection.

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23435864

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