Construction of Legal Protection for Children in Conflict with the Law Due to Motorcycle Gangs Based on Legal Certainty (Case Study of Palu City Police Resort)

Abstract

The increasing involvement of children in motorcycle gang activities in Palu City indicates a serious problem in the child protection system and the effectiveness of law enforcement. Children as perpetrators of criminal acts cannot be viewed solely as criminals, but also as vulnerable individuals who require protection in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child as mandated by Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA). This study aims to analyze the construction of legal protection for children in conflict with the law due to their involvement in motorcycle gangs, identify its weaknesses, and formulate a legal protection construction based on legal certainty. The method used is socio-legal research that combines normative and empirical approaches through analysis of legislation, literature studies, and interviews with Palu City Police officers and related parties. The results of the study indicate that the police have implemented a number of preventive and repressive measures, but their implementation still faces various obstacles, including limited resources, a lack of understanding of the principles of restorative justice among officers, and a suboptimal diversion mechanism. In addition, the existing legal protection construction does not fully guarantee legal certainty for children due to the gap between normative provisions and implementation in the field. This research emphasizes the need to strengthen legal structures, increase the capacity of officials, and integrate more systematic policies so that legal protection for children involved in motorcycle gangs can be carried out comprehensively, humanely, and still guarantee legal certainty.