Further, the Directorate General of Corrections, Indonesia mitigates the
impacts of imprisonment by fulfilling the rights of prisoners. It has worked
with international organisations in 2010 to enhance the implementation of
human rights in correctional settings aiming at improving the application of
the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela
Rules). It also manages to establish a pilot project in prisons where 20
officers will be assigned as auditors to audit their prison based on the
standard laid down by the UN and their performance is evaluated by a
committee. Recently the evaluation of the officers is submitted to their
respective departments. It is important to note that the rights of prisoners
in accordance with Mandela Rules are incorporated in Indonesian law
particularly in Indonesian Act No. 12 Year 1995 Art. 14 on corrections.32
v.Initiatives
Among initiatives taken by the Directorate General of Corrections,
Indonesia in ensuring the rights of prisoners is respected:
a) Right to religion and its rituals – the prison provides prayer facilities
and religious programs for inmates to conduct prayers and spiritual
activities according to their beliefs.
b) Rights to health services and decent food – prison medical staffs
conduct routine health inspections including for the dietary intake
and provide necessary medicines for inmates. During the COVID-19
outbreaks, measures were taken to ensure that inmates do not
contract the virus such as suspending the admission of new
inmates, online trials, and online visits. Personal protective
equipment for example masks and hand sanitiser were also
provided for inmates. On the other hand, prison management
supervises the preparation of meals to ensure that the process
follows the health standards.
c) Right to lodge complaints – complaint boxes are placed at corners
of the prison for inmates to lodge complaints. Additionally, the
warden and officers hold periodic meetings with inmates to attend
to their complaints.
d) Right to reading materials – every prison has a library to enable
access of reading materials for inmates. The prison works with the
local public library to regularly update the collection of reading
materials.
e) Right to be visited – communication is an important aspect of
human life and the treatment of inmates in prison. Although faceto-face visit have been suspended due to the outbreak of COVID19, nevertheless inmates are granted the right to see their family
through online means.
32
Among the rights conferred by the Indonesian law to prisoners are the right to religion and its rituals, right to
education and teaching, right health services and decent food, right to lodge complaints, right to reading
materials and to keep up with permitted mass-media broadcast, right to receive wage for works performed,
right to be visited by family and legal counsels, right to remission or reduction of prison sentence, right to
assimilation or home visit, right to parole, right for leave prior release, and other rights in line with the legislation.
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