The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) hosted the event Sound of Justice 2025 Goes to Campus, an interactive seminar organized in collaboration with Jaksapedia (the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia), the UGM Faculty of Law, and DEMA Justicia. This event is part of the official Jaksapedia program, which aims to improve legal literacy and build public awareness, particularly among students, regarding the criminal justice system in Indonesia.
With the theme “Restorative Justice in a Formalistic Nation: An Opportunity for Reform or a Shortcut to Law Enforcement?”, the event was designed not only to present academic discourse but also to offer interactive experiences that engage the public more closely. The series of events includes a public lecture, a panel discussion, an interactive Kahoot quiz, the Indonesian Corruption Museum installation, and a closing music concert.
Held at Building V.1.1 of the UGM Faculty of Law on Thursday (June 19, 2025), the seminar was free of charge, open to the public, and provided certificates and refreshments for participants. Taking the form of an interactive talk show, the event featured several prominent speakers from law enforcement agencies and academia.
The event opened with a keynote speech by Riono Budisantoso, S.H., M.A., Head of the Yogyakarta Special Region High Prosecutor’s Office, who emphasized the importance of implementing restorative justice as a means of reforming the criminal justice system in Indonesia. Next, the panel discussion featured a number of competent speakers, including Suroto, S.H., M.H., Head of the Yogyakarta District Attorney’s Office; Dr. Agustinus Herimulyanto, S.H., M.H.Li., Deputy Director of TPP & TPPU at the UHLBEE Directorate of the Special Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, and Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, S.H., LL.M. (HR), Ph.D., a professor of Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law, UGM. They discussed various current issues, including the application of restorative justice (restorative justice) in legal practice in Indonesia.
Interestingly, the event also featured Tegar Wicaksana, a beneficiary of the restorative justice program, who shared a firsthand perspective from the standpoint of a citizen affected by the policy. The talk show was hosted by two moderators: Nathan Sidabutar, a student at the UGM Faculty of Law, and Reza Ahmad, Chief Editor of Jaksapedia.
The participants’ enthusiasm grew even more thanks to an interactive Kahoot quiz that combined legal education with a competitive and fun atmosphere. The quiz not only tested their knowledge but also encouraged active participation from the entire audience, ranging from students to legal practitioners.
To wrap up the event, a music concert helped liven up the atmosphere. The inclusion of this entertainment underscores that legal education need not always be rigid and formalistic, but can be presented in a more fluid, community-oriented, and down-to-earth manner. By blending knowledge, social critique, and entertainment, Sound of Justice – Goes to Campus successfully served as a platform for collective reflection on the future direction of Indonesian law—one that is more humanistic and committed to substantive justice.
This initiative supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 in strengthening justice and transparent institutions, SDG 3 in supporting social well-being through restorative justice, as well as SDG 4 by advancing quality, critical, and publicly accessible legal education. Through this educational approach, the Faculty of Law at UGM reaffirms its commitment to shaping a generation that is legally aware and of high integrity.
Author : DEMA Justicia (Kabiner Virya Sankara)
