Analysis of Child Development Policy at LPKA Class II Batam Based on the Principle of the Best Interests of the Child

Analisis Kebijakan Pembinaan Anak di LPKA Kelas II Batam Berdasarkan Prinsip Kepentingan Terbaik Bagi Anak Analisis Kebijakan Pembinaan Anak di LPKA Kelas II Batam Berdasarkan Prinsip Kepentingan Terbaik Bagi Anak

Abstract

Since Indonesia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the best interest of the child has become the normative foundation for juvenile justice and correctional systems. This article critically analyzes the implementation of child rehabilitation policies at the Class II Juvenile Correctional Facility (LPKA) in Batam, focusing on the consistency of its programs with the principles mandated by the CRC, the Juvenile Justice System Law (UU No. 11/2012), and the Correctional Law (UU No. 22/2022). Using a normative juridical method and document-based legal analysis, this study reveals that while educational and vocational programs are routinely implemented, essential aspects such as psychosocial counseling and structured social reintegration remain inadequate. The findings identify legal and administrative gaps that weaken the alignment between ideal norms and real practices. Key obstacles include limited professional counseling, weak family involvement, and the absence of integrative support systems after release. The study emphasizes the importance of policy harmonization between the SPPA Law and the Correctional Law through specific ministerial regulations. Theoretically grounded in the child protection framework of Eglantyne Jebb, Talcott Parsons’ functionalism, and the doctrine of parens patriae, this study contributes a contextual evaluation framework for improving correctional approaches based on restorative and child-centered principles. It proposes that LPKA Batam should transition from institutionalized models to community-based rehabilitation systems that emphasize long-term well-being and social reintegration.