THE NATURE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IMPLEMENTATION IN DEFAMATION OFFENSES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

Resumen

This research aims to analyze and discover the essence of the application of restorative justice in resolving criminal acts of defamation through social media. This study employs a combination of normative and empirical legal research, utilizing statutory, conceptual, comparative, and qualitative approaches. The research was conducted at the South Sulawesi Regional Police and the Makassar District Attorney's Office. Data were collected from primary sources through interviews and observations, as well as secondary sources including books, legal doctrines, laws and regulations, and court decisions, supported by tertiary data obtained through literature review.  The results of this study indicate that restorative justice essentially represents a recovery-oriented approach to resolving criminal cases, which is doctrinally and normatively relevant to the settlement of defamation cases through social media. However, its implementation has not yet been effective due to the absence of uniform regulations, the persistence of retributive legal paradigms among law enforcement officers, limited understanding of restorative justice within society, and the lack of institutional facilities supporting restorative justice mechanisms. This study recommends strengthening institutional regulations, improving public legal awareness, enhancing the capacity of law enforcement officers, and providing dedicated facilities to support the effective implementation of restorative justice in handling defamation cases through social media.