Implementation of Community Guidance in Handling Children In Conflict with The Law at Class I Correctional Institution Cirebon

Abstract

Children in conflict with the law (CICL) are a vulnerable group requiring special protection and assistance at every stage of the criminal justice process. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the role of Community Counselors (Pembimbing Kemasyarakatan/PK) in handling CICL at the Class I Correctional Center in Cirebon. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a case study approach. The findings reveal that the execution of PK's roles in the pre-adjudication, adjudication, and post-adjudication phases has not been fully optimized. Several obstacles were identified, including delayed involvement of PKs from the beginning of the legal process, an imbalance between the number of PKs and clients, and insufficiently comprehensive social approaches. Nonetheless, in the post-adjudication phase, a more adaptive approach was observed in response to the needs of the children. Therefore, institutional strengthening and capacity development of PKs are necessary to ensure that the assistance provided is carried out effectively and aligns with the principles of restorative justice.