Death Penalty Policy Against Perpetrators of Narcotics Crimes in the Perspective of Criminology

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Narcotics crimes are considered extraordinary crimes that have a broad impact on public health, social stability, and state security. Research conducted by Muhammad Hafiz and Faisal Riza from Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara in May 2026 analyzes the effectiveness of the death penalty policy stipulated in Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics in Indonesia.

Background and Issues

Although Indonesia maintains the death penalty as a sanction for major drug dealers and large-scale traffickers, these crimes continue to occur massively in practice. This research highlights the discrepancy between the severity of the criminal sanctions imposed and the reality in the field, where drug trafficking remains rampant. This raises questions regarding the effectiveness of the deterrent effect of the death penalty policy from a criminological perspective.

Research Methodology

This research employs a normative-empirical method, as proposed by Abdul Kadir Muhammad, which combines:

  • ·         Normative Legal Research: Analysis of legislation (Law Number 35 of 2009).
  • ·         Empirical Research: Analysis of the reality of law enforcement and the effectiveness of the policy in society.

Key Findings

The research reveals several important points:

  • ·         Characteristics of the Crime: Narcotics crimes in Indonesia are classified as organized crime, are cross-country in nature, and involve highly complex networks.
  • ·         Challenges of Deterrence: From a criminological perspective, the death penalty policy has not shown a strong correlation in significantly reducing the rate of drug trafficking. These crimes tend to persist even though severe sanctions have been applied.
  • ·         The Need for Comprehensive Policy: Given the complexity of narcotics networks, a criminal policy that relies solely on the death penalty is considered insufficient. A more comprehensive legal approach is required, encompassing prevention, rehabilitation, and the eradication of networks from the roots to the source.

Policy Implications

The authors emphasize that the government needs to re-evaluate its narcotics countermeasures policy. Strict law enforcement is necessary, but it must be accompanied by strategies that address the social and systemic aspects of illicit drug trafficking so that policies are not merely reactive, but provide long-term solutions.

Author Profile:

  • ·         Muhammad Hafiz, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara.
  • ·         Faisal Riza Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara.

Research Source: Hafiz, M., & Riza, F. (2026). "Death Penalty Policy Against Perpetrators Narcotics Crimes in the Perspective of Criminology". Contemporary Journal of Applied Sciences (CJAS), 4(5), 565-572.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/cjas.v4i5.188

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