Integrating SARA PATAANGUNA Values into Social Work Crimes under Indonesia’s New Criminal Code: A Humanistic Approach Rooted in Buton Culture

1. Introduction

The Indonesian criminal justice system is experiencing a substantial shift due to the implementation of the new Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023). This codification transforms the philosophical basis of punishment from a solely retributive paradigm to one that prioritises rehabilitation, victim restitution, and the restoration of societal harmony.^1,2 A significant innovation within this framework is the statutory recognition of social work crimes as an alternative consequence, especially for minor offences. This strategy seeks to offer a more compassionate and efficacious response to criminal behaviour than short-term incarceration, which frequently intensifies problems of prison congestion and recidivism.³

Concurrently, there is an increasing acknowledgement of the necessity to “indigenise” the criminal justice system by incorporating local knowledge and cultural values.⁴ The Buton community in Southeast Sulawesi has a significant philosophical system called SARA PATAANGUNA. This system consists of four fundamental pillars: Bonto (morality), Bicara (communication), Guna (skills), and Rank (leadership), collectively establishing a thorough ethical foundation for societal existence and government.⁵

The new Criminal Code establishes a legal framework for social work offences; nonetheless, a notable deficiency persists in comprehending how these penalties might be applied efficiently and ethically in alignment with local cultural contexts.⁶ Previous research has investigated the theoretical congruence of the new Criminal Code with restorative justice principles,^2,7 although limited studies have assessed the feasibility of incorporating particular, localised value systems such as SARA PATAANGUNA.

This research examines whether the values of SARA PATAANGUNA provide a more humanistic perspective within the Indonesian criminal justice system, particularly with social work offences. This paper seeks to examine the congruence between the SARA PATAANGUNA pillars and contemporary criminal ideologies, utilising a social work sentence as a case study to demonstrate its practical significance. The results aim to enhance the establishment of a more culturally informed, compassionate, and efficient justice system in Indonesia.

2. Methods

3. Results and analysis

4. Discussion

This study illustrates that the SARA PATAANGUNA values provide a cohesive and resilient framework for executing social work crimes in Indonesia. The four pillars—Bonto, Bicara, Guna, and Rank—serve as concrete cultural frameworks that offer practical direction for developing rehabilitative programs that prioritise humanism and efficacy over mere vengeance.

The results align with prior studies supporting restorative justice in Indonesia^2,7 while offering a tangible, culturally tailored framework for execution. This research is one of the first to rigorously align a specific indigenous value system with the formal legal framework of the new Criminal Code, despite prior studies recognising the significance of local wisdom.⁴

Nonetheless, the integration of SARA PATAANGUNA presents certain challenges. A key worry is the possible discord between cultural traditions and global human rights ideals. Traditional hierarchies may unintentionally affect the allocation of social work, potentially resulting in discrimination.¹⁴ To address this, any implementation must include explicit safeguards, comprehensive training for judges and correctional staff, and supervision procedures to guarantee that the use of these principles does not undermine individual rights or legal certainty.¹⁵

This work is, however, theoretical in nature. Future empirical investigations are crucial to assess the actual consequences of this technique. Research should quantify recidivism rates, evaluate the efficacy of offender rehabilitation, and analyse the experiences of victims and communities affected by the implementation of such a strategy.

5. Conclusions

This study concludes that the principles of SARA PATAANGUNA provide a substantial and humanitarian framework for the execution of social work offences under Indonesia’s revised Criminal Code. The four pillars—Bonto (morality), Bicara (communication), Guna (skills), and Rank (leadership)—are strongly aligned with the objectives of rehabilitation, victim recovery, and social peace. Integrating these values, especially in indigenous territories such as Buton, can enhance the effectiveness, cultural relevance, and humanity of the justice system.

This study advocates Indonesian politicians and legal professionals to include SARA PATAANGUNA values into the formulation and implementation of social work initiatives. Such integration must be executed with meticulous regard for the preservation of human rights, the assurance of legal clarity, and the provision of comprehensive training for all parties. Additional empirical research is essential to substantiate these findings and establish optimal procedures for the indigenisation of criminal justice in Indonesia.

Author contributions statement

Herman: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing.

Oheo Kaimuddin Haris: Resources, Software, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing.

Fareed Mohd Hassan: Supervision, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing.

Kamaruddin: Supervision, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing.

Wahyu Aliansa: Resources, Software, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing.