Law Students of Universitas Bung Hatta Conduct Field Study at Class IIA Padang Correctional Facility

Students of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Bung Hatta, conducted a field study at Class IIA Padang Correctional Facility on December 16, 2025, as part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in education and teaching.

The program involved 55 Criminal Law students accompanied by Dr. Uning Pratimaratri, S.H., M.Hum., Dr. Deaf Wahyuni Ramadhani, S.H., M.H., and Dean Dr. Sanidjar Pebrihariati, S.H., M.H. This activity supports SDG 4, SDG 16, and SDG 17 by strengthening practical legal learning and institutional understanding.

Dean Dr. Sanidjar Pebrihariati emphasized that field study is an essential component of contextual legal education. She stated that students must understand not only normative legal theory but also the real implementation of correctional systems within the criminal justice framework. The visit provided direct exposure to institutional practices and rehabilitation mechanisms.

Head of Class IIA Padang Correctional Facility, Junaidi Rison, A.Md.IP., S.H., welcomed the academic visit and highlighted the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions and correctional facilities. He explained that the prison functions as a center for rehabilitation and social reintegration of inmates. Current data shows 820 Category BI inmates, 3 Category BIIA, 13 Category BIII, and 7 life-sentenced prisoners, with overcapacity gradually declining in 2025.

Students received comprehensive explanations regarding personality and vocational development programs for inmates. These include religious guidance, intellectual development, civic awareness, scouting activities, as well as vocational training in agriculture, workshops, bakery, laundry services, barbershop services, and small-scale creative industries. The institution also provides integrated services covering healthcare, remission, disability services, in-person and virtual visits, and public complaint mechanisms.

The program concluded with a supervised observation of selected rehabilitation areas, enabling students to directly witness correctional services in practice. Through this activity, Universitas Bung Hatta aims to cultivate law graduates with empirical insight, institutional awareness, and a strong commitment to justice and social reintegration within the criminal justice system.