Communication as a determinant of restorative justice policy implementation in narcotics abuse cases: Evidence from Gorontalo City Police Resort, Indonesia

Communication is widely recognized as a fundamental determinant of successful policy implementation; however, its specific role in implementing restorative justice for narcotics abuse cases has received limited empirical attention. This study aims to analyze how the communication factor determines the successful implementation of the restorative justice policy in narcotics abuse cases at Polresta Gorontalo Kota by examining the dimensions of policy transmission, clarity, and consistency.This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach grounded in George Edward III’s policy implementation model. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, documentation, and document analysis involving police investigators, members of the Integrated Assessment Team, legal practitioners, medical personnel, psychologists, and family members of narcotics abuse offenders. The data were analyzed using an interactive qualitative analysis model comprising data reduction, data display, verification, and conclusion drawing, while source and method triangulation were applied to ensure the credibility of the findings. The findings indicate that communication has been institutionally established through hierarchical command structures, internal coordination mechanisms, and inter-agency collaboration, enabling implementing actors to recognize restorative justice as a rehabilitation-oriented policy. Nevertheless, communication has not yet functioned optimally at the operational level. Delays in information exchange, inconsistent interpretation of technical procedures, differences in professional perspectives among implementing institutions, and inadequate communication with offenders’ families continue to hinder effective policy implementation. These shortcomings weaken institutional coordination, create inconsistencies in determining case eligibility, and increase the tendency to rely on conventional criminal prosecution rather than restorative justice. The study further demonstrates that successful implementation depends not only on the existence of communication channels but also on the quality of communication reflected in timely policy transmission, shared understanding, and consistent inter-agency coordination. In conclusion, communication functions as the strategic mechanism linking policy objectives with implementation practices. Strengthening communication across implementing institutions and improving communication with external stakeholders are essential for ensuring the consistent and sustainable implementation of restorative justice in narcotics abuse cases. These findings contribute to policy implementation scholarship by emphasizing communication as the central driver of rehabilitation-oriented criminal justice reform.