According to Moch. Faisal Salam, the purpose of criminal procedure law is to seek and obtain at least close to the material truth, which is the complete truth of a criminal case by applying the provisions of criminal procedure law honestly and accurately, with the aim of finding out who is the perpetrator who can be charged with committing an offence, and then requesting an examination and decision from the court to determine whether it is proven that a criminal offence has been committed and whether the person charged is to blame.

Furthermore, Moch. Faisal Salam said that after a court decision is rendered and all legal remedies have been taken and finally the decision has permanent legal force, the criminal procedure law also regulates the main points of how to implement and supervise the decision. So, what is regulated in criminal procedure law is the means that must be taken in enforcing legal order in society, but at the same time also aims to protect the human rights of each individual, both the victim and the lawbreaker.

Function of Criminal Procedure

Van Bemmelen suggests 3 (three) functions of criminal procedural law, among others:

  1. Seek and find the truth;
  2. Decision making by the judge; and
  3. Implementation of decisions that have been made.

Of the three functions above, the function that is considered the most important because it is the foundation for the other two functions is the function of "seeking and finding the truth". After finding the truth obtained through evidence and materials, the judge will arrive at a decision (which should be fair and precise), which is then implemented by the prosecutor.

In line with Van Bemmelen's opinion, Bambang Poernomo stated that the duties and functions of criminal procedure law through its equipment, namely:

  1. To seek and find facts according to the truth;
  2. Apply the law with judgement based on fairness; and
  3. Implement decisions fairly.

If we elaborate further, the function of seeking and finding this truth must be supported by the existence of complete evidence in accordance with Article 183 of the Criminal Procedure Code, then the granting of a judge's decision should be after going through the procedural stages and procedures of the trial as determined by the order of procedural law and jurisprudence and the implementation of the decision means that it should be carried out and implemented by authorised officials and institutions, then the implementation of the decision must also be in accordance with the dictum of the judge's decision.