Neoclassical Legal Review: Journal of Law and Contemporary Issues

Adaptive Criminal Liability for Persons with Disabilities: A Review of Criminal Reduction and Elimination Policies in the National Criminal Code

2025-04-29T21:02:11+07:00

The reformulation of criminal liability in the New Criminal Code through Articles 38 and 39 demonstrates the commitment of the Indonesian criminal law system to accommodate the principle of inclusive justice for persons with mental and/or intellectual disabilities. This article discusses the elimination and reduction of punishment for perpetrators with disabilities from a normative perspective, as well as the challenges of its implementation at the practical level. In the old Criminal Code, Article 44 only provides general criminal exemptions without procedural clarity and alternative measures. The 2023 Criminal Code, which will enter into force in 2026, changes this approach by distinguishing between offenders who are still able to understand the consequences of their actions (subject to punishment with reduction or alternative measures) and offenders who are in an acute state and unable to understand (subject to measures without punishment). This article uses a normative juridical approach and is supported by limited empirical juridical analysis to examine the effectiveness and challenges of this new provision. The results of the study show that Articles 38 and 39 have shifted the paradigm of punishment from retributive to humanistic, but their implementation still faces obstacles, especially regarding technical guidelines for assessing mental capacity, expert involvement, and potential treatment disparities. Therefore, a lex specialis is needed to support the general provisions so that they can be operationalized effectively, fairly, and non-discriminatively against persons with disabilities in the criminal law process.

Perlindungan Hukum Pengungsi Rohingya yang Ditolak Masyarakat Aceh Berdasarkan Konvensi Jenewa 1951

2025-05-01T17:00:38+07:00

Pada tahun 2023, kedatangan pengungsi Rohingya dalam jumlah besar di Aceh menjadi isu krusial yang menyoroti kompleksitas permasalahan kemanusiaan. Pengungsi ini melarikan diri dari situasi yang tidak kondusif di negara asal mereka untuk mencari perlindungan. Namun, respons yang beragam dari masyarakat lokal di Aceh telah menciptakan hambatan signifikan dalam penyediaan bantuan dan akses terhadap tempat tinggal yang layak bagi mereka. Kondisi ini memperlihatkan adanya ketegangan antara kebutuhan mendesak para pengungsi dan penerimaan di tingkat lokal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bentuk perlindungan hukum terhadap pengungsi Rohingya di Indonesia dalam kerangka hukum internasional dan nasional, serta mengevaluasi efektivitas kebijakan yang ada. Pendekatan kajian pustaka digunakan untuk menelaah berbagai literatur, dokumen hukum, dan peraturan yang relevan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Indonesia memegang prinsip non-refoulement, yaitu tidak mengusir pengungsi kembali ke tempat yang mengancam keselamatan mereka. Dasar hukum perlindungan ini sebagian besar berlandaskan pada Peraturan Presiden Nomor 125 Tahun 2016 tentang Penanganan Pengungsi dari Luar Negeri. Meskipun peraturan ini menjadi landasan formal, implementasinya di lapangan, khususnya di Aceh, masih menghadapi banyak tantangan. Tantangan ini berkaitan dengan koordinasi antar lembaga dan kapasitas pemerintah daerah. Selain itu, peran lembaga pemerintah daerah dan organisasi internasional juga vital dalam memberikan bantuan, meskipun upaya tersebut masih belum mampu mengatasi seluruh masalah secara menyeluruh.

Cyber Law Reform from the Perspective of Pancasila: Between Legal Certainty and Social Justice

2025-07-05T17:25:14+07:00

This article explores the reform of cyber law in Indonesia from the perspective of Pancasila, emphasizing the tension between legal certainty and social justice. As information technology evolves rapidly, legal challenges in the digital space become increasingly complex, demanding a legal system that is both adaptive and grounded in national foundational values. In this context, Pancasila serves as a normative paradigm guiding legal reform, ensuring that it does not solely prioritize legal certainty but also guarantees the fair protection of citizens' rights. The article analyses various policies and regulations concerning cyber law and examines the extent to which Pancasila principles are reflected in the legislative and implementation processes. Using a normative and conceptual approach, this study aims to contribute to the development of a cyber law framework that is not only responsive to technological change but also embodies social justice for all Indonesians

Political Economy’s Influence on ASEAN’s Competition Law: A Study on Selected ASEAN Members

2025-08-31T15:04:32+07:00

Competition law aims to promote fair market practices and prevent monopolistic behaviour, while political economy explores the relationship between economic systems and political institutions. Together, these disciplines shape the regulatory frameworks that oversee national markets and economic policies, encouraging competition and tackling issues such as inequality and market inefficiencies. In developing countries, the influence of political economy tends to be more significant than in developed nations, which usually benefit from more stable democratic institutions and stronger legal systems. Among ASEAN member states (AMS), there is notable variation in levels of economic development, policies, political structures, and legal frameworks. Consequently, each AMS’s unique political and legal history has influenced its approach to economic management and competition law, leading to distinct priorities and concerns. These political economy factors similarly impact the process of regional competition law integration among ASEAN countries. This paper explores how political economy shaped the enactment and enforcement of competition law in selected AMS: Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. It analyses the underlying reasons for their specific reservations, exemptions, and priorities within their competition law. Using qualitative legal research and comparative analysis, the study reviews relevant political economy structures, statutes, regulations, and policies in the chosen AMS to assess their significance and influence on competition law administration. The findings indicate that ASEAN’s regional competition law alignment and integration must recognise each AMS’s broader internal political economy, which is vital for developing competitive markets within ASEAN.

Implikasi Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 168/PUU-XXI/2023 terhadap Upah Minimum Sektoral di Sumatera Utara

2025-09-28T11:34:54+07:00

Transformasi hukum ketenagakerjaan di Indonesia mengalami momentum signifikan melalui Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi (MK) Nomor 168/PUU- XXI/2023, yang merehabilitasi keberadaan Upah Minimum Sektoral (UMS) pasca UU Cipta Kerja. Putusan ini menjadi krusial khususnya di wilayah industri seperti Sumatera Utara, di mana disparitas upah antar sektor menjadi problem struktural. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis implikasi yuridis dan sosial-ekonomi dari putusan tersebut terhadap sistem pengupahan sektoral, dengan menyoroti peran Dewan Pengupahan Daerah sebagai aktor sentral. Metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian yuridis normatif-empiris dengan pendekatan konseptual dan perundang- undangan, serta dikombinasikan dengan data sekunder. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa pemulihan peran Dewan Pengupahan dalam penetapan UMS melalui mekanisme tripartit tidak hanya memperkuat legitimasi kebijakan pengupahan, tetapi juga membuka ruang keadilan distributif dalam struktur ekonomi lokal. Implikasi dari hasil ini memperlihatkan perlunya penguatan kelembagaan pengupahan dan regulasi turunan yang konsisten dengan semangat putusan MK. Penelitian ini merekomendasikan evaluasi berkala terhadap efektivitas kebijakan UMS serta perlunya standardisasi metodologi penentuan upah berbasis sektor di tingkat daerah.

Regulating Illicit Enrichment into Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Legal Reform Regime

2025-08-31T17:03:40+07:00

The concept of illicit enrichment refers to a significant increase in a public official’s assets that cannot be reasonably explained in relation to their lawful income. As a legal instrument, illicit enrichment has been adopted in various jurisdictions to complement traditional anti-corruption measures, especially when proving the predicate offenses is difficult due to the sophisticated methods used to conceal corrupt practices. In Indonesia, despite the country’s commitment to combat corruption, the legal framework has yet to formally accommodate the concept of illicit enrichment as a standalone offense. This paper explores the potential of incorporating illicit enrichment into Indonesia’s anti-corruption regime by examining international practices, legal principles, and potential human rights concerns, particularly the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof. The analysis indicates that with proper safeguards, illicit enrichment provisions can be aligned with due process and serve as an effective tool in curbing unexplained wealth accumulation among public officials. The study also highlights the challenges Indonesia may face, including legislative reform, institutional readiness, and the need for public acceptance. Nevertheless, the integration of illicit enrichment into national law is not only a legal necessity but also a moral imperative in strengthening public accountability and restoring public trust. This paper concludes that a balanced and rights-respecting approach to illicit enrichment could significantly enhance the effectiveness of Indonesia’s anti-corruption framework.