Reconstructing Justice: The Role of Law No. 8 of 1981 in Upholding Equality Before the Law in Indonesia

This study investigates the legal-political formulation of the principle of equality before the law in Indonesia, as codified in Law No. 8 of 1981 on Criminal Procedure. Although the Constitution guarantees equal legal standing for all citizens, implementation remains hindered by institutional, cultural, and normative constraints. Using a normative juridical approach, this research is conducted through library-based methods, drawing on secondary legal materials such as statutory texts, academic literature, journals, and previous research. The primary legal source is Law No. 8 of 1981, analyzed to explore its alignment with justice, human rights protection, due process, and legal certainty. A qualitative descriptive analysis is employed to examine how this principle operates within the Indonesian criminal justice system. The findings reveal that while the law formally enshrines the principle of legal equality, practical enforcement often falls short. This gap highlights the need for harmonizing legislative intent with judicial and institutional practice to ensure fair treatment under the law for all citizens.