"The remissions are a step to give them a chance to contribute to the community after serving their sentences," Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly stated at the Independence Day ceremony at the ministry's office in Jakarta on Saturday.
On that occasion, the remissions were given symbolically to four inmates from Class 1 Prison of Central Jakarta and Class 1 Pondok Bambu Prison of East Jakarta.
Laoly stated that since taking the leadership role in the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, he believed that every inmate has the right to a sentence reduction.
The minister advised the remission recipients to use the freedom granted to them to become individuals who contribute to society.
"Show the nation, to society, that you are not the dregs of society. You can return to society by contributing well," he told the inmates.
He also reminded that inmates should use the experience of serving a sentence as a motivation to change their lives and be a better person.
The general remissions given every August 17 is a form of right fulfillment for inmates mandated by Law Number 22 of 2022 on Corrections.
In 2024, some 176,984 inmates received remissions, including 172,678 inmates receiving sentence reduction and 3,050 inmates declared free immediately.
Meanwhile, for children in conflict with the law, 1,215 children received sentence reduction, and 41 were declared free immediately.
With the granting of remissions, the government can save around Rp274.3 billion (around US$17.47 million) in budget for food for inmates and children in conflict with the law.
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Translator: Nadia Putri, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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