The Resolution of Criminal Offenses through Customary Law from a Restorative Justice Perspective

Customary settlement of criminal offenses is an established conflict resolution practice in Indonesian society that shares key features with restorative justice. This study examined its legal framework within the Indonesian legal system, its relationship with restorative justice principles, and the limits of its application concerning legal certainty and victims’ rights. Normative legal research was conducted using statutory and conceptual approaches. Primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials were collected through library research and analyzed qualitatively using a descriptive-analytical method. The analysis identifies a constitutional basis for recognizing customary law in Article 18B(2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, alongside its recognition under Article 2 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. Customary settlement aligns with restorative justice insofar as it emphasizes deliberation, reparation for victims, offender accountability, and the restoration of social relationships. Its application must nevertheless comply with statutory limits and uphold legal certainty, victims’ rights, and human rights. The study concludes that customary settlement may serve as a complementary mechanism for resolving criminal offenses with a restorative orientation where permitted by national law, provided that participation is voluntary and the process is non-discriminatory. These findings clarify the importance of aligning customary dispute resolution with legal safeguards to reconcile community-based restoration with the protection of individual rights.