The criminal procedural law comes into force when someone violates criminal law, and the perpetrator is charged as the perpetrator of the criminal act, regardless of their gender. However, male and female prisoners are different in nature, and therefore, protection and support for women who commit crimes, especially those who are breastfeeding, cannot be equated with male perpetrators of crimes. This includes female drug convicts who breastfeed and bring their children with them to prison until the children is 3 years old.
In 2022, Law Number 12 of 1995 concerning Corrections was replaced with Law Number 22, but the norms for implementing imprisonment for women who breastfeed are still regulated in Article 20, paragraphs 1, 3 to 5, of PP No. 32 of 1999 concerning Requirements and Procedures for Implementing the Rights of Correctional Inmates jo. Article 28, paragraphs 3 to 5, of PP 58 of 1999 concerning Requirements and Procedures for Exercising Authority, Duties, and Responsibilities for the Care of Prisoners. The two PPs only determine additional food and health services for sick inmates.
The legislative policy towards female drug convicts who are breastfeeding and children of prisoners in Correctional Institutions is contained in Article 9 and Article 62, paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of Law Number 22 of 2022 concerning Corrections, which stipulates prisoners' rights. Of the twelve prisoners' rights closely related to female drug prisoners who are breastfeeding and children of prisoners, the right to receive physical care, adequate health and food services by nutritional needs, and social services are particularly relevant.
The Mataram Class III Women's Penitentiary implemented this policy by providing breastfeeding inmates with the same room as their children. The inmates who breastfeed did not participate in skills training since they focused on looking after and breastfeeding their children. For the psychological and spiritual development of prisoners, a psychological and spiritual approach is carried out collaboratively by Development Officers and psychologists, while for spiritual matters, they collaborate with the Ministry of Religion. Inmates' children played in the playground in the prison before it was renovated, and during Covid-19, they stayed in their room since there were no visits.
Regarding health services, the prison provides a clinic inside the prison and 4 nurses who provide primary health services for prison residents. Still, if the health condition of the prisoner and the prisoner's children cannot be handled by prison nurses or requires further action from a doctor, the prisoner, and the prisoner's children are referred to the Mataram City Community Health Center, Army Hospital, or Mataram City Hospital, which has a collaboration with the Prison according to the Prison SOP. Adequate food according to nutritional needs, additional food, and limited social services for breastfeeding prisoners and children of prisoners in prison are provided. However, social services for health care outside prison, both Community Health Centers and Hospitals, use each prisoner's funds, even if they receive assistance from Diskes specifically for emergencies when the prisoner concerned and their family are financially unable.