Tingginya kasus penganiayaan di Indonesia, termasuk di Kota Ambon, tidak hanya menimbulkan konsekuensi hukum, tetapi juga implikasi sosial bagi individu yang telah menyelesaikan masa pidananya. Mantan narapidana kerap menghadapi stigma masyarakat yang berpotensi menghambat proses reintegrasi sosial. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bentuk, tingkat, dan proses konstruksi stigma masyarakat terhadap mantan narapidana kasus penganiayaan di Kota Ambon. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus dalam paradigma interpretatif. Partisipan dipilih menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dengan kriteria tertentu yang relevan dengan fokus penelitian. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam terhadap lima partisipan dengan latar belakang sosial yang beragam, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik untuk mengidentifikasi konstruksi makna subjektif yang berkembang di masyarakat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tingkat stigma yang muncul relatif rendah, meskipun terdapat variasi dalam bentuk dan intensitasnya. Mayoritas partisipan menunjukkan sikap terbuka dan memberikan kesempatan kepada mantan narapidana yang telah menunjukkan perubahan perilaku serta menyelesaikan kewajiban hukumnya. Sikap penerimaan tersebut dipengaruhi oleh pengalaman interaksi langsung, sistem nilai sosial, serta konteks budaya lokal.

The high incidence of assault cases in Indonesia, including in Ambon City, generates not only legal consequences but also social implications for individuals who have completed their prison sentences. Former inmates often face social stigma that may hinder their process of social reintegration. This study aims to analyze the forms, levels, and construction processes of community stigma toward former inmates convicted of assault in Ambon City. The study employed a qualitative approach using a case study design within an interpretative paradigm. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique based on criteria relevant to the research focus. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with five participants from diverse social backgrounds and were analyzed thematically to identify the construction of subjective meanings within the community. The findings indicate that the level of stigma tends to be relatively low, although variations exist in its forms and intensity. Most participants demonstrated openness and were willing to provide opportunities to former inmates who had shown behavioral change and fulfilled their legal obligations. This acceptance was influenced by direct interaction experiences, prevailing social values, and the local cultural context.