Victim Protection in the Criminal Justice System from the Perspective of Dignified Justice Theory

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the orientation of victim protection in the Indonesian criminal justice system from the perspective of Dignified Justice Theory. It employs normative juridical research using statutory and conceptual approaches. Legal materials were collected through library research and analyzed qualitatively by examining relevant legislation, legal doctrines, and scholarly studies. The findings indicate that victim protection in Indonesia remains challenged by the fragmented implementation of victims' rights, insufficient integration of protection across criminal justice stages, and institutional coordination difficulties. The analysis identifies five interconnected dimensions of victim protection: physical and psychological security, procedural rights and legal assistance, restitution and compensation, rehabilitation and recovery, and institutional responsibility. From the perspective of Dignified Justice Theory, these findings demonstrate that formal recognition of victims' rights is insufficient without effective implementation that respects human dignity and addresses the consequences of criminal acts. The theory provides a normative foundation for repositioning victims as rights-bearing subjects rather than merely witnesses or supporting parties in criminal proceedings. Accordingly, victim protection should be integrated into investigation, prosecution, adjudication, and post-adjudication through coordinated institutional measures that support rights fulfillment and victim recovery. This study concludes that a dignified criminal justice system must assess justice not only through the punishment of offenders but also through effective protection, restoration, and respect for victims' dignity.