SENTENCING GUIDELINES IN THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL CODE: IMPLEMENTATION IN JUDICIAL DECISIONS
Published:
2026-03-16Downloads
Abstract
Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code introduces sentencing guidelines as an important component of the reform of Indonesia’s sentencing system. The introduction of these guidelines aims to control the use of judicial discretion, enhance rationality in sentencing decisions, and reduce sentencing disparities in criminal justice practice. This study aims to examine the concept of sentencing guidelines in the National Criminal Code and to analyze their implementation in judicial decisions. This research employs normative legal research using statutory and conceptual approaches. The results show that the sentencing guidelines in the National Criminal Code are systematically structured, covering general provisions, sentencing guidelines for individual offenders and corporations, guidelines for the application of imprisonment, as well as other provisions related to the implementation of punishment. These guidelines are not intended to restrict judicial independence but rather to provide a framework of consideration to ensure that sentencing decisions are based on rational, proportional, and just reasoning. The implementation of sentencing guidelines is expected to improve the quality of legal reasoning in judicial decisions, prevent irrational sentencing disparities, and strengthen public trust in the criminal justice system.
Keywords:
Sentencing guidelines National Criminal Code implementation judicial decisionsReferences
Andini, O. G., & Nilasari, N. (2021). Measuring the relevance of sentencing guidelines for corruption offenders in efforts to eradicate corruption. Tanjungpura Law Journal, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp.133-148.
Assegaf, R. S. (2018). Sentencing guidance in the Indonesia’s criminal code reform bill: For whose benefit? Australian Journal of Asian Law, 19, 87.
Faisal, F., Rahayu, S., Rahayu, D. P., Darmawan, A., & Yanto, A. (2023). Progressive consideration of judges in deciding sentencing under Indonesia’s new Criminal Code. Jambe Law Journal, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp.85–102.
Haldemann, F. (2005). Gustav Radbruch vs. Hans Kelsen: A debate on Nazi law. Ratio Juris, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp.162-178.
Irmawanti, N. D., & Arief, B. N. (2021). The urgency of sentencing purposes and guidelines in the reform of the criminal punishment system. Journal of Indonesian Legal Development, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp.217-227.
Jayadi, A. (2018). Several notes on the principle of “For the sake of justice based on belief in the Almighty God”. Jurisprudentie: Journal of Law, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp.1-26.
Muladi, & Sulistyani, D. (2020). Notes on four decades of struggle in overseeing the realization of the National Criminal Code (Part I, 1980–2020). Semarang: Universitas Semarang.
Mulyadi, L., Yahya, B., & Suhariyanto, B. (2019). The urgency of sentencing guidelines in realizing justice and legal certainty. Jakarta: Kencana Prenada Media Group.
Oktavianto, A. F., Warka, M., Prasetyawati, E., & Hufron, H. (2025). Disparity in sentencing against advocates in Indonesia: Minimizing it through sentencing guidelines. Journal of International Trade, Logistics and Law, Vol. 11 No.1, pp.385–394.
Palimai, A. F. H., Pawennei, M., & Badaru, B. (2026). The effectiveness of restorative justice in judicial decisions: The transformation of the sentencing paradigm in Indonesia. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp.30–41.
Paulina, A. L., & Zulfa, E. A. (2024). Sentencing guidelines and rechterlijk pardon in Article 54 paragraph (1) and (2) of the Criminal Code 2023. LITERACY: International Scientific Journals of Social, Education, Humanities, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp.10–21.
Rahmawati, Z. D., & Siregig, I. K. (2021). Judicial considerations in sentencing perpetrators of premeditated murder. Widya Yuridika: Journal of Law, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp.184-190.
Zahlan, M., & Fakrulloh, Z. A. (2024). Update on the functionalization of sentencing guidelines in the criminal law system in Indonesia. Asian Journal of Social and Humanities, Vol. 2 No. 9, pp.1996–2004.
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Kurniasanti, Syukri Kurniawan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.




