Juvenile Diversion Practices Reveal Procedural Challenges in Indonesian Restorative Justice

General Background: Restorative justice provides an alternative approach to juvenile criminal proceedings by emphasizing accountability, rehabilitation, and the protection of children's rights. Specific Background: Juvenile diversion enables eligible criminal cases to be resolved through mediated agreements involving children, victims, families, and relevant justice institutions. Knowledge Gap: Existing studies have extensively discussed the normative foundations of juvenile diversion, while procedural challenges and their implications for restorative justice implementation require further empirical examination. Aims: This study examines the legal framework, implementation practices, and legal implications of juvenile diversion through empirical legal research using a sociological juridical approach. Data were collected through interviews, documentary analysis, and relevant legal literature. Results: The findings identify procedural challenges involving inconsistent understanding among practitioners, coordination limitations, victim participation, difficulties reaching agreements, and resource constraints. Diversion practices demonstrate two interconnected dimensions: mediation between affected parties and protection through rehabilitation and social reintegration. Successful implementation remains dependent on stakeholder cooperation and compliance with legal procedures. Novelty: The study integrates normative legal analysis with empirical examination of procedural barriers and institutional responsibilities within juvenile diversion practices. Implications: Strengthening procedural consistency, interinstitutional coordination, practitioner competencies, and victim-centered communication may support more reliable implementation while safeguarding children's rights and restorative accountability. Highlights: Implementation barriers included inconsistent procedural understanding and limited institutional coordination. Victim willingness and family participation were central to reaching mediated agreements. Legal consequences encompassed rehabilitative accountability, protection of children's rights, and social reintegration.