JURIDICAL ANALYSIS OF NARCOTICS CRIME CASE HANDLING AT THE PUTUSSIBAU DISTRICT COURT

Abstract

The handling of narcotics related criminal cases at the Putussibau District Court reflects the complex dynamics of legal application, particularly in distinguishing between users, dealers, and perpetrators of criminal conspiracy. This study aims to analyze the legal reasoning behind judicial decisions in selected narcotics cases from 2025 and to assess the extent to which the principles of proportionality and non-penal approaches are applied. The findings indicate that the majority of cases are still resolved through a repressive approach, primarily imprisonment, even though some cases involved defendants identified as users with small amounts of evidence less than one gram. The implementation of rehabilitation measures remains suboptimal due to limited access to integrated assessment procedures and a lack of supporting resources in this border region. Additionally, the absence of clear technical standards to guide drug abusers toward rehabilitation pathways remains a significant challenge. Therefore, it is crucial to promote consistent application of restorative justice principles, especially for narcotics users, and to enhance cross sectoral coordination in the implementation of a fair and effective narcotics justice system.