Regulatory Update Criminal Law Reform: Implementing Regulations and Guidelines 

By Setyawati Fitrianggraeni and Tiara Amanda Putri  

Overview 

To ensure consistent implementation and uphold legal certainty, the Government has issued Government Regulation No. 55 of 2025 on the Procedures and Criteria for the Determination of the Living Law in Society (GR 55/2025) and Supreme Court Circular Letter No. 1 of 2026 on the Guidelines for the Implementation of the 2023 Criminal Code and the 2025 Criminal Procedure Code (SC 1/2026). 

GR 55/2025 serves as the implementing regulation of Article 2 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP), which explicitly recognizes the application of “the living law” within society.

Article 2 of the Criminal Code affirms that the principle of formal legality does not negate the applicability of the living law in determining whether a person may be held criminally liable, even where the conduct is not expressly regulated under the Criminal Code. Based on Article 4 of Government Regulation No. 55 of 2025, such law must meet the following criteria: 

1. be consistent with the values of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, human rights, and the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations; and  
2. be acknowledged and practiced by the relevant customary law community. 

Meanwhile, SC 1/2026 serves as a practical guideline for judges in the application of the new Criminal Code.

Key Highlights 

• Definition of the Living Law
  The living law is defined as customary law that determines whether a person who commits a certain act is deemed punishable, as stipulated under Article 1 point (1) of Government Regulation No. 55 of 2025. By recognizing the living law, Article 2 of the Criminal Code aims to prevent legal gaps (rechtsvacuum) in situations where certain acts are regarded by customary law communities as warranting criminal sanctions but are not expressly regulated under the Criminal Code. 

• Formalization through Regional Regulations (Perda) 
  Customary criminal offenses that are not regulated under the Criminal Code must be stipulated through Regional Regulations (Perda) to serve as guidelines for law enforcement within the relevant region. Such Regional Regulations (Perda) must, at a minimum, specify the name of the customary law community, territorial boundaries, prohibited acts, procedures for handling violations, and sanctions in the form of the fulfillment of customary obligations.

• Settlement Mechanism and Sanctions
  The handling of customary criminal offenses is primarily carried out through deliberation by the Customary Institution, in coordination with the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP). Sanctions imposed on individuals in the form of the fulfillment of customary obligations are considered equivalent to a Category II fine under the Criminal Code, reflecting a restorative justice–oriented approach to punishment. The outcome of the customary deliberation may be submitted for confirmation to the Chief Judge of the District Court through the Head of the District Prosecutor’s Office to strengthen its legal validity. 

• Implementation Guidelines Issued by the Supreme Court (SEMA No. 1 of 2026)
  SEMA No. 1 of 2026 provides technical guidance for judges on the application of Article 2 of the Criminal Code, including transitional provisions for ongoing cases and the application of alternative forms of rulings under the new Criminal Code. 

References 

1. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 55 tahun 2025 tentang Tata Cara Dan Kriteria Penetapan Hukum Yang Hidup Dalam Masyarakat. 
2. Surat Edaran Mahkamah Agung Nomor 1 Tahun 2026 Tentang  Pedoman Implementasi KUHP 2023 dan KUHAP 2025. 
3. Enggar Wijayanto & Muhammad Haris Makarim, Politik Hukum Living Law dan Hak Asasi Manusia terhadap Rancangan Perda Tindak Pidana Adat dalam KUHP, Jurnal Legislasi  Indonesia 22, no. 2 (June 2025). 
4. Rafi Muhammad Ave, Menyelami Filosofi “The Living Law” dalam Pasal 2 KUHP Nasional, Marinews Mahkamah Agung, https://marinews.mahkamahagung.go.id/artikel/menyelami-filosofi-the-living-law-dalam-pasal-2-kuhp-0E1 
5. Rian Sulistio, Pemerintah Resmi Keluarkan PP Tentang Hukum yang Hidup dalam Masyarakat, https://dandapala.com/article/detail/pemerintah-resmi-keluarkan-pp-tentang-hukum-yang-hidup-dalam-masyarakat. 

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