The Finding of Some Luxury Cells in Cipinang Correctional Institution: a Wrongdoing that Damage the Reputation of the Correctional Institution Systems

ICJR is deeply concerned over the finding of special treatments of some inmates in the form of providing special facilities for certain inmates in the Cipinang Correctional Institution. This is clearly a humiliating event that adds a long list of commodification cases in the correctional institutions. ICJR also strongly criticized the actions committed by Cipinang Correctional Institution officers who approved this kind of practice. This practice is even being carried out among officials. There is a call for a strict legal measures to crack down this corrupt behavior from the officers who are supposed to be examples in tutoring the inmates. Strict action should also be applied for the inmates who gained benefit from this illegal practice.

The system of the correctional institutions is built pursuant to Law No.12 of 1995, it precisely provides the principle of equal treatment and service in terms of tutoring the inmates. The process of tutoring in the correctional institutions is aimed to re-shape the inmates so they will not do the same offenses again. How can this tutoring process be accomplished if the corrupt actions of the correctional institution officers and inmates are still ongoing.

However, ICJR also points out that beside there are corrupt behaviours, there is special situations that will still bolster these corrupt practice of commodification. The special situation is the overcrowding in correctional institutions, the overcrowding of the correctional institutions has always been the main problem of Indonesia correctional institutions. Findings from ICJR’s studies and from various organizations’ studies have shown a consistent pattern.

The data as of June 2017 records that the number of inmates in Indonesia is as many as 153.312, while the capacity that can maintain is only for 122,114 inmates. Overall, the correctional institutions in Indonesia are 84% overloaded. A more severe number in Cipinang correctional institution Class I, as of June 2017 the Cipinang correctional institution is filled with 2926 inmates and detainees, while its capacity is only for 880 inmates. The excess numbers in the correctional institution in Indonesia has a direct impact on the practice of correctional institution commodification.

Overcrowding is clearly led to some services not provided and some facilities not well equipped for the inmates. Appropriate conditions can only be met when the correctional institutions accommodate only in accordance with the capacity. How can an appropriate condition be met when the overload has reached 332%, almost 3 times from the normal condition. The overcrowding is also decreasing the minimum standard of services for the inmates to an alarming level. Basic services such as drinking water, food, communications, bedrooms including health services will receive an immediate impact. The State has been found as having difficulties to finance the correctional institution’s expenditures in order to meet these minimum standards.

This situation pushes the inmates to find alternative ways in supporting the minimum standard of living in the correctional institution. This situation is also what ultimately encourages the supports from the outside, the family and the relatives. The problem is, the family support will be calculated on the economic condition of each family, there are wealthy and many are poor one. This is what makes the act of facility arrangement is always a success commodity for the corrupt officers. Inmates who have higher financial status will bribe officers to get more proper facilities and in some case, a luxury one.

ICJR encourages the Government and the House of Representatives to work harder for the correctional institution reform and to bring the corrupt individuals to be held responsible, the legal policy should also be rational and not only favor the criminal provisions that always bring the offenders into correctional institutions that are currently fully loaded.

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