MAJALAH ILMIAH JOURNAL
LPPM Universitas Putra Indonesia YPTK Padang Jl.
Raya Lubuk Begalung.
Padang.
West Sumatera.
Indonesia.
Zip Code: 25221 Volume: 32.
Issue: 2.
Page: 108 - 116, 28/12/2025, e-ISSN: 1412-5854 Available online at website: https://jmi-upiyptk.
org/ojs/index.
php/jmi/index Protection and Fulfillment of Women PrisonersAo Rights under IndonesiaAos Law No.
1 of 2023: A Case Study at Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang Nashriana1nC.
Syaiful Asmi Hasibuan2.
Nadillah Maudi Cahyani3.
Rida Kherin Oktavianty4 Department of Law.
Faculty of Law.
Universitas Sriwijaya.
Palembang, 30662.
Indonesia Department of Law.
Faculty of Law.
Universitas Sriwijaya.
Palembang, 30662.
Indonesia Department of Law.
Faculty of Law.
Universitas Sriwijaya.
Palembang, 30662.
Indonesia Department of Law.
Faculty of Law.
Universitas Sriwijaya.
Palembang, 30662.
Indonesia correspond: nadillahmaudi@gmail.
Abstract This community engagement project aimed to enhance legal awareness and strengthen the protection of prisonersAo rights at Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang through the socialization of IndonesiaAos new Criminal Code (Law No.
1 of 2.
The initiative adopted a participatory and empirical approach consisting of five stages: preliminary assessment, legal socialization, educational implementation, evaluation, and sustainability planning.
Fifty inmates participated in the program out of a total of 547 inmates at the facility.
Data were collected through pre-tests, post-tests, interviews, and observations.
Results showed a significant increase in inmatesAo legal understanding, from 32% in the pre-test to 86% in the post-test, indicating a 54% Qualitative findings revealed improved confidence, communication, and awareness of rights among participants.
The program also contributed to fostering human rightsAebased correctional practices aligned with the Nelson Mandela Rules and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 and SDG .
In conclusion, the legal socialization of Law No.
1 of 2023 proved effective in empowering inmates through education and promoting the institutional shift toward a rehabilitative correctional Keywords: PrisonersAo Rights.
Criminal Code (Law No.
1 of 2.
Legal Literacy.
Restorative Justice.
Correctional Institution.
Human Rights Empowermentt Majalah Ilmiah Journalis licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.
0 International License.
Introduction The protection of prisonersAo rights is central to achieving justice and human dignity within IndonesiaAos correctional system.
Law No.
1 of 2023 marks a major reform of the Criminal Code, replacing the colonial Dutch legacy and introducing a humanistic, restorative approach that prioritizes proportional punishment, rehabilitation, and reintegration, including the explicit recognition and protection of prisonersAo fundamental rights .
The law mandates that punishment must not degrade dignity (Article .
and must consider individual circumstances (Article .
, aligning with modern correctional philosophy that views prisons as rehabilitative and educational environments rather than sites of retribution .
, .
Despite this advancement, the fulfillment of prisonersAo rights remains constrained by limited legal literacy, inadequate educational support, and institutional challenges.
Many inmates especially in Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang Institution come from disadvantaged backgrounds and lack access to legal information, leaving them unaware of rights such as fair procedures, protection from abuse, health services, remission, communication, and rehabilitation opportunities .
, .
Low legal literacy deepens vulnerability to procedural injustice, as many inmates have never received structured legal education, reinforcing disempowerment .
Prior studies highlight that legal awareness supports rehabilitation and reduces recidivism, consistent with SDG 4 and SDG 16 on education, justice, and inclusive institutions .
, .
Accepted: 20-10-2025 | Revision: 01-11-2025 | Publication: 30-11-2025 | doi: 10.
Nashriana, et al Data from Ditjenpas and field observations show that the Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang prison is near full capacity, with overcrowding and limited access to legal counseling.
Only 15% of inmates have participated in legal counseling in the past two years, and fewer than 10% understand key rights related to remission, rehabilitation, and legal aid, demonstrating the urgency of rights-based educational interventions .
A legal literacy program implemented by Universitas Sriwijaya in response to these issues demonstrated a 68% improvement in inmatesAo comprehension, affirming the effectiveness of participatory legal education .
These developments reflect IndonesiaAos broader shift toward a rehabilitative, rights-based correctional The new Criminal Code serves as a Aumoral compassAy that humanizes offenders and redefines punishment as social restoration, a transformation that requires consistent implementation and continuous legal education .
This article analyzes the legal, institutional, and social dimensions of rights fulfillment in Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang facility, offering recommendations to strengthen justice and human dignity within correctional practices .
Thus, this initiative not only fulfills the mandate of Law No.
of 2023 but also embodies IndonesiaAos broader constitutional commitment to justice and human Preliminary Assessment This initial phase aimed to identify inmatesAo baseline legal understanding.
The research team from the Faculty of Law.
Universitas Sriwijaya, together with the institutionAos education division, distributed structured questionnaires and conducted guided interviews with selected inmates and officers.
The pretest consisted of 15 questions on key provisions of Law No.
1 of 2023, covering rights to fair process, health services, rehabilitation, remission, and family contact.
A total of 50 inmates participated voluntarily.
Conducted in a single day, the assessment allowed time for orientation, testing, and debriefing.
The results indicated that only 32% of participants had an adequate understanding of their rights.
This phase also included mapping available resources and institutional readiness, which informed the development of training materials tailored to inmatesAo literacy levels and learning needs .
Legal Socialization (Educational Interventio.
Figure 1.
Legal Socialization Methods The methodological framework of this community engagement program employed an empirical and participatory approach to enhance inmatesAo legal literacy regarding Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Indonesian Criminal Code.
Conducted at Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang which in 2025 housed approximately 547 female inmates the program involved 50 participants.
The core activity was delivered through a structured 90-minute session consisting of a 15-minute pre-test, a 45-minute interactive presentation by the facilitator, a 15-minute discussion, and a 15-minute post-test.
This sequence ensured systematic measurement of learning outcomes and effective engagement with the participants.
Each stage was executed to produce reliable data and demonstrate the programAos impact on inmatesAo legal awareness.
Source: Field Data, 2025 Figure 4.
Participants of the Legal Socialization Source: Field Data, 2025 The second phase involved a structured legal education workshop on key provisions of the new Criminal Code related to prisonersAo rights, delivered through interactive lectures, visual media, case discussions, and role-playing.
Materials were simplified Majalah Ilmiah Oe Vol.
Iss.
108 - 116
Nashriana, et al into practical explanations using relatable examples from daily prison life.
Sessions were facilitated by law lecturers, correctional practitioners, and law students, covering five themes: humane treatment, proportional sentencing and restorative justice, rights to remission and rehabilitation, access to services, and legal assistance mechanisms.
Conducted in a single threehour session at the institutionAos multipurpose hall, the workshop used a participatory approach that encouraged inmates to share personal experiences, fostering a reflective and empowering learning environment .
, .
Figure 1.
Comparison of InmatesAo Legal Understanding Before and After Socialization Educational Implementation and Interactive Learning Source: Field Data, 2025 Figure 3.
Interactive Learning Evaluation Phase Mean Understanding Score (%) Interpretation Pre-Test Limited Post-Test Significant As shown in Table 1, the evaluation indicates a 54% improvement in legal understanding after the educational program.
The increase demonstrates the effectiveness of participatory and contextual teaching methods in improving inmatesAo knowledge of their legal rights, consistent with previous empirical findings that participatory legal education enhances retention and awareness among marginalized groups .
Evaluation and Monitoring Source: Field Data, 2025 Figure 3.
Interactive Learning Figure 5.
Sharing Session Source: Field Data, 2025 Source: Field Data, 2025 Figure 6.
Sharing Session During implementation, the facilitators applied contextual pedagogy, using multimedia presentations, visual diagrams, and real-case examples to bridge the gap between abstract legal principles and practical An educational pamphlet summarizing Law No.
1 of 2023 .
ocusing on prisonersAo right.
was distributed to each participant.
Additionally, a diagrammatic comprehension model (Table .
was introduced to illustrate the difference in inmatesAo understanding levels before and after the intervention.
Source: Field Data, 2025 Evaluation used both quantitative and qualitative Pre-test and post-test comparisons measured Majalah Ilmiah Oe Vol.
Iss.
108 - 116
Nashriana, et al gains in legal comprehension, while interviews and FGDs with inmates and officers assessed behavioral changes and program relevance.
Data triangulation, combining observations, feedback forms, and staff performance records strengthened the validity of Post-test results showed that over 70% of participants could identify at least four legal rights under Law No.
1 of 2023, up from 18% before the Correctional staff also noted greater inmate confidence in discussing their treatment and rights, reflecting the cognitive and psychological empowerment targeted by restorative correctional education .
Program Sustainability and Institutional Integration The final stage focused on developing a sustainability plan to institutionalize legal education within the correctional facility.
The team produced a modular handbook.
AuUnderstanding Your Rights under KUHP 2023,Ay for integration into future rehabilitation A proposed MoU between Universitas Sriwijaya and Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang aims to support annual follow-up programs and continued collaboration.
The sustainability plan consists of three key components: .
Training of Trainers (ToT) for officers as legal literacy facilitators, .
integration of legal modules into the rehabilitation curriculum, and .
digital access to legal materials via tablets and educational kiosks provided by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Phase Descriptio Key Activities Output under Law discussion No.
1/2023 s Contextual 54% Application teaching, improvement Implementati of distributio comprehensi Evaluation Impact Post-test.
Quantitative measureme FGDs, & qualitative nt and ToT for Institutiona Long-term Sustainability l Source: Field Data, 2025 Ethical Considerations The program adhered to ethical standards set by Universitas SriwijayaAos Institutional Review Board and the Indonesian Correctional Authority.
All participants provided informed consent, and confidentiality was maintained throughout data collection and publication.
Table 2.
Summary of Methodological Framework Phase Preliminary Assessment Descriptio Key Activities Output Identificati on of legal Pre-test.
Baseline data interviews, on inmatesAo among 50 mapping understandin participants resources g .
ut of 547 RightsLegal Socialization based Workshop Increased awareness of simulation legal rights s, group Results and Discussions The implementation of the community service program.
AuProtection and Fulfillment of PrisonersAo Rights at Palembang Class IIA Correctional Institution (Socialization of Law No.
1 of 2023 concerning PrisonersAo Right.
Ay, produced both quantitative and qualitative outcomes demonstrating significant improvement in inmatesAo understanding of their legal rights and institutional awareness.
The following discussion presents empirical findings, interpreted within the theoretical and normative framework of human rights and restorative justice as embedded in IndonesiaAos new Criminal Code.
Majalah Ilmiah Oe Vol.
Iss.
108 - 116
Nashriana, et al Quantitative Results: Legal Understanding Before and After Intervention The evaluation of the program was based on a comparative analysis of pre-test and post-test results involving 50 female inmates who participated in the legal literacy sessions.
The test instrument, consisting of 20 structured questions, measured comprehension in five key domains: .
understanding of prisonersAo rights, .
awareness of fair trial principles, .
access to rehabilitation and remission, .
legal aid and complaint mechanisms, and .
understanding of restorative justice principles.
The results showed a substantial improvement in overall comprehension, increasing from an average score of 32% before the program to 86% after.
Table 1 presents the detailed comparison across the assessed domains.
Table 3.
Comparative Comprehension Levels Domain of Knowledge Understanding of prisonersAo rights PreTest
Mean
(%)
Analysis PostTest
Mean
(%)
Improvement
(%)
Awareness of fair trial principles Rehabilitation and remission rights Legal aid and Restorative justice awareness Average Score Legal Source: Field Data, 2025 As shown in Table 3, the most significant improvement occurred in the domain of legal aid and complaint mechanisms ( 59%), suggesting that many inmates had previously been unaware of the availability of legal representation or channels for filing grievances.
The results also indicate a strong cognitive transformation toward recognizing their basic human and legal rights under Law No.
1 of 2023.
This outcome confirms the effectiveness of contextual, participatory, and interactive legal education methods in increasing awareness among marginalized groups .
, .
Table 4.
Comparative Analysis of ParticipantAos Level of Understanding Phase Understanding Level (%) Category Pre-Test Low Post-Test High Source: Field Data, 2025 The improvement of over 50% demonstrates that structured legal education can significantly enhance inmatesAo comprehension, bridging the gap between normative legal frameworks and their lived experiences within correctional institutions.
Qualitative Findings: Behavioral and Attitudinal Shifts Beyond numerical data, qualitative evaluations revealed notable shifts in attitudes and self-perception among inmates.
The majority of participants expressed newfound confidence in articulating their legal entitlements and reported greater comfort in engaging with correctional officers regarding procedural or disciplinary matters.
Several participants indicated that they previously viewed imprisonment as synonymous with the total loss of rights.
however, after the sessions, they recognized that incarceration does not negate fundamental human dignity, as explicitly stated in Article 52 of Law No.
1 of 2023 .
During post-program focus group discussions, three behavioral indicators emerged as signs of improved legal literacy:
Assertive Communication: Inmates began using legal terminology appropriately when discussing issues of treatment, rehabilitation, and family visitation.
Cooperative Engagement: There was a marked increase in cooperation between inmates and officers Majalah Ilmiah Oe Vol.
Iss.
108 - 116
Nashriana, et al during routine counseling, attributed to enhanced mutual understanding.
Peer Education: Some inmates initiated informal sharing sessions to explain key concepts of the new Criminal Code to fellow prisoners, creating an organic learning network within the prison community.
During post-program focus group discussions, three behavioral indicators emerged as signs of improved legal literacy: assertive communication, cooperative engagement, and peer education.
These findings support WahyuniAos .
argument that legal literacy functions not only as a cognitive asset but also as an empowerment mechanism that improves inmatesAo psychological resilience and reintegration prospects .
In addition, the program generated wider social impact within the correctional community.
Correctional officers reported a noticeable reduction in disciplinary incidents and increased collaboration between inmates and staff during counseling sessions.
The improved communication climate fostered mutual respect and strengthened social cohesion inside the facility, demonstrating that legal literacy interventions can contribute to a more humane and rights-based correctional culture.
Institutional Performance: Factual Data from Palembang Class IIA Correctional Institution To contextualize these results, factual data from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
South Sumatra .
indicate that Palembang Class IIA Correctional Institution has a total capacity of 560 inmates, currently housing 547 inmates, or approximately 98% occupancy.
The institution has introduced several programs aimed at rights fulfillment.
A Health Services: Regular medical check-ups and partnerships with Palembang General Hospital.
A Education and Training: Literacy classes and vocational skills programs in sewing, bakery, and crafts.
A Religious and Psychological Counseling: Weekly sessions provided by certified counselors and clerics.
A Communication Rights: Designated visiting hours and virtual visitation facilities through AuLapas Smart Service.
Ay A Remission and Rehabilitation: Systematic remission assessments conducted every national holiday in accordance with Ministerial Decree No.
HH17.
PK.
06/2022 .
However, the report also identifies gaps in program delivery: only 15% of inmates had previously received structured legal counseling, and most educational activities focused on vocational rather than legal knowledge.
The community engagement initiative therefore addressed this institutional gap by integrating legal literacy into the broader rehabilitation framework.
However, the report also identifies gaps in program delivery: only 15% of inmates had previously received structured legal counseling, and most educational activities focused on vocational rather than legal knowledge.
The community engagement initiative therefore addressed this institutional gap by integrating legal literacy into the broader rehabilitation framework.
The collaboration between Universitas Sriwijaya and the correctional institution has since been extended through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure annual legal education programs.
This follow-up initiative marks the first institutionalized step toward sustainable rights-based education within the Palembang Class IIA facility, ensuring long-term continuity beyond the initial intervention period.
This aligns with AstutiAos .
observation that effective prison reform requires synchronization between regulatory change and institutional practice, ensuring that progressive laws such as the 2023 KUHP are internalized within everyday correctional governance .
Discussion: Interpreting the Impact and Policy Implications The results affirm that participatory legal education can effectively enhance awareness and empowerment within prison environments.
This outcome supports the restorative justice philosophy embedded in the new Criminal Code, which emphasizes rehabilitation and social reintegration rather than punitive isolation.
The observed behavioral changes particularly in communication, cooperation, and selfadvocacy reflect a transition from passive compliance to active participation, a hallmark of human-centered correctional reform.
This shift resonates with the conceptual framework advanced in recent scholarship highlighting that the restorative model of justice must include educational interventions that restore autonomy and human agency among offenders .
Furthermore.
Majalah Ilmiah Oe Vol.
Iss.
108 - 116
Nashriana, et al the integration of this program into institutional routines contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG.
, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Educatio.
and Goal 16 (Peace.
Justice, and Strong Institution.
By promoting accessible legal education, the program strengthens inmatesAo civic understanding and supports national commitments to human rights-based The findings also reveal critical insights for correctional Legal education must be institutionalized as a core rehabilitative function, not an auxiliary activity.
Correctional officers require specialized training in rights-based facilitation to sustain literacy outcomes.
Periodic evaluations and follow-up modules should be introduced to measure long-term impact on reintegration and recidivism rates.
These recommendations align with international best practices articulated by the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners .
he Nelson Mandela Rule.
, which underscore that every inmate retains the right to education and access to legal information as part of their rehabilitation process .
Furthermore, the integration of this program into institutional routines contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG.
, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Educatio.
and Goal 16 (Peace.
Justice, and Strong Institution.
By promoting accessible legal education, the program strengthens inmatesAo civic understanding and supports national commitments to human rights-based governance.
In the long term, this initiative serves as a sustainable empowerment model that can be replicated in other correctional facilities across Indonesia, fostering systemic transformation toward education-centered Correlation Between Education and Rights Fulfillment A key analytical finding is the direct correlation between legal literacy and the realization of prisonersAo As inmates gain a better understanding of their rights under Law No.
1 of 2023, their ability to advocate for fair treatment, request legal aid, and participate in rehabilitative programs increases substantially.
This finding is consistent with Hakim.
Johari, and Saputra .
, who emphasize that ensuring access to legal information is an integral part of fulfilling female inmatesAo rights within Indonesian correctional institutions .
The Palembang program thus serves as a replicable model for other correctional institutions across the country, demonstrating how academicAe institutional collaboration can bridge normative law and practical human rights implementation.
Conclusions The community service project titled AuProtection and Fulfillment of Women PrisonersAo Rights under IndonesiaAos Law No.
1 of 2023: A Case Study at Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA PalembangAy demonstrates the transformative potential of legal literacy as an empowerment instrument within the correctional Empirical findings from this study indicate that participatory and contextually adapted legal education can substantially enhance inmatesAo understanding of their rights, improve institutional relations, and reinforce the rehabilitative mission of incarceration in Indonesia.
The results revealed a significant improvement in prisonersAo comprehension, with post-intervention test scores rising from 32% to 86%, equivalent to a 54% overall increase.
This outcome confirms the effectiveness of interactive learning methods that bridge the gap between normative law and lived experiences in correctional settings.
Moreover, enhanced legal literacy has fostered behavioral changes, such as assertive contributing to a more inclusive and rights-based institutional culture.
The continuity of cooperation between the Faculty of Law.
Universitas Sriwijaya, and Lapas Perempuan Kelas IIA Palembang is maintained through scheduled annual legal education sessions and capacity-building programs for correctional officers.
In conclusion, the socialization of Law No.
1 of 2023 not only strengthens legal awareness among prisoners but also promotes a systemic shift from punitive correction to rehabilitative justice, aligning IndonesiaAos correctional practices with global human rights and sustainable development References