(To address the overcrowding issue), we will first redistribute inmates (to another prison)Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej believes that transferring inmates to another prison will merely be a temporary solution to address prison overcrowding issues.
"(To address the overcrowding issue), we will first redistribute inmates (to another prison)," Hiariej stated through the Directorate General of Prisons' YouTube channel observed here on Monday.
The deputy minister clarified that the redistribution of inmates will not be a permanent solution to address the prison overcapacity issue, as more measures are necessary to balance the nationwide prison population that has surpassed 100 thousand inmates.
Hiariej believes that the government should construct more prisons if the redistribution of inmates is to be designated as a permanent solution to address the prison overcapacity issue.
The deputy minister noted that a budget of at least Rp300 billion is required to develop an ideal prison, with proper security and facilities for two to three thousand inmates.
As more budget is necessary for the prison's daily upkeep and to develop and enhance prison security, constructing a new prison will not be the most feasible choice, the deputy minister opined.
Apart from the redistribution of inmates, the deputy minister believes that the assimilation and parole of inmates will also address the problem of overcapacity.
"Those will be our temporary measures to address the prison overcapacity issue," Hiariej remarked.
Earlier, Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly, suggested that the revision to Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics will also help address prison issues in Indonesia, particularly overcapacity.
"The Narcotics Law's revision is currently under consideration by the House of Representatives (DPR RI). (The revision) is expected to help relieve prison overcapacity issues," Laoly noted after inaugurating 39 ministry officials last Friday (22 Apr).
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Translator: M Zulfikar, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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