Health Justice in Correctional Settings: Legal Responsibility for Prisoners’ Right to Health in Indonesia

Abstract

Prisoners represent one of the most marginalized populations in health systems worldwide, often excluded from mainstream health justice discourse. In Indonesia, chronic prison overcrowding, limited healthcare infrastructure, and infectious disease outbreaks highlight systemic failures in protecting prisoners’ right to health. This article analyzes the legal responsibility of the state in ensuring health justice within Indonesian correctional facilities. Through normative legal analysis and policy review, the study examines constitutional guarantees, correctional laws, and international human rights standards applicable to prisoners’ health. The findings reveal a significant gap between legal norms and practical implementation, exacerbated by institutional neglect and resource constraints. The paper argues that denying adequate healthcare to prisoners constitutes structural injustice and undermines public health more broadly. Framing prisoners’ health as a matter of health justice rather than charity, the article calls for stronger legal accountability, intersectoral coordination, and integration of prison health services into the national health system. Indonesia’s experience underscores a global challenge in aligning punitive justice systems with human rights-based health obligations.