Reconstructing Penal Sanctions in Regional Regulations of Asymmetrically Decentralised Regions After the Enactment of Indonesia's National Criminal Code

Authors

  • Yulita Anggraini Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia.
  • Iza Rumesten Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia.
  • Artha Febriansyah Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v4i4.1362

Keywords:

Asymmetric decentralization, Regional regulation, Penal sanction, Ultimum remedium, Living law

Abstract

Indonesia delegates a limited penal authority to local governments while simultaneously recognising asymmetric decentralisation for Aceh, Papua, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta. This study analyses how penal sanctions in regional regulations are regulated, how they are implemented, and how they should be reformulated after Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code and Law Number 1 of 2026 on Penal Adjustment. Combining normative and empirical legal research, the study applies statutory, philosophical, comparative, and futuristic approaches, supported by semi-structured interviews with regional enforcement officials in South Sumatra, Jakarta, Aceh, and Papua. The findings show that local penal authority is attributive yet bounded, and that asymmetry materially widens punishment only in Aceh through the jinayah regime, whereas Papua and Yogyakarta concentrate their specificity on distributive and cultural affairs. Empirically, administrative sanctions dominate enforcement because penal processes are slow, costly, and institutionally constrained, leaving criminal provisions to function as a deterrent reserve. The abolition of confinement and the adoption of a fine-category system now compel systematic revision. This study proposes an omnibus regional regulation model grounded in ultimum remedium, proportionality, and the recognition of living law.

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Published

2026-09-24

How to Cite

Anggraini, Y., Rumesten, I., & Febriansyah, A. (2026). Reconstructing Penal Sanctions in Regional Regulations of Asymmetrically Decentralised Regions After the Enactment of Indonesia’s National Criminal Code. Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 4(4), 1296–1306. https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v4i4.1362

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 4 (2026): (GIJLSS) Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences (September - October 2026)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Yulita Anggraini, Iza Rumesten, Artha Febriansyah

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