Assessing Criminal Protection of Marital Integrity in Indonesia: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Court Decisions

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v4i1.11400

Keywords:

Criminal Liability, Family Protection, Marriage Integrity, Marriage Offences, Socio-Legal Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to assess how Indonesian courts interpret and enforce criminal provisions concerning marriage-related offences and their role in protecting marital integrity and the rights of lawful spouses. Using a qualitative socio-legal approach, the study examines seven Indonesian district court decisions issued between 2021 and 2025. Data were collected through systematic document analysis and analyzed using qualitative content analysis and comparative case analysis, focusing on marital status, evidentiary basis, judicial reasoning, criminal liability, and sentencing. The results indicate that bigamy and unlawful remarriage constitute the dominant offences in the cases examined, while adultery involving married persons appears less frequently. A valid prior marriage consistently serves as the central basis for establishing criminal liability, with marriage certificates, registration records, and related administrative documents functioning as the principal evidence of marital status. Judicial reasoning demonstrates that criminal liability is shaped not only by the existence of a prior marriage but also by considerations of intent, deception, evidentiary circumstances, and the consequences of the offence for marital and family relationships. Variations in sentencing further reflect differences in the circumstances and impacts of individual cases. The study concludes that criminal law provides an important institutional mechanism for protecting marital integrity, legal certainty, and the rights of lawful spouses, but criminal sanctions alone cannot ensure comprehensive family protection. This study contributes a socio-legal perspective by demonstrating how judicial enforcement of marriage-related offences supports the legal protection of marriage and highlighting the need for an integrated framework combining criminal law, family law, marriage registration, and preventive mechanisms.

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2026-05-06

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Ariyanti, V., Maula, B. S., Nuroniyah, W., & Harahap, N. P. (2026). Assessing Criminal Protection of Marital Integrity in Indonesia: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Court Decisions. USRATY : Journal of Islamic Family Law, 4(1), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v4i1.11400

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Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): USRATY : Journal of Islamic Family Law

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