WORLD FACTBOOK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS

while cars and minibuses are used primarily foranti-crime patrols and escort duties.Inaddition, foot and bicycle patrols are regularlydeployed by Neighborhood Police Post officers.(Harman, 1991).*Electronic equipment.Electronic equipment inuse by police includes the Telebox, Fax, theFinancial Administrative Control System, CPIS(Central Personnel Information System), portabletransceivers, and cellular phones.The Singaporepolice department is also equipped with a CombinedOperations Room (COR) which serves as the maincommand and control nerve center and has a CallDistribution System (ACD) for handling emergencycalls. (Harman, 1991).All operational centers are linked by aMessage Switching System (SMS), Computer-AidedDispatch system (ACD), and the Local Area Networks(LAN) . Computers are not only used in issuingtraffic tickets and monitoring traffic violations,but also for the Automatic FingerprintIdentification System which became operational in1992. (Harman, 1991).*Weapons.Smith & Wesson (.38 caliber) revolvers,automatic handguns, rifles, pump action guns, riotguns, submachine guns, bulletproof vests, andsmoke screens are used by the police force.ThePolice Tactical team, called upon in armedoffender incidents, is equipped with HK7 pistolsand HK M5 submachine guns. (Harman, 1991).4. Trainingand qualifications.Basic training is required for all candidatesand is conducted in a residential training p r o g r a min the Police Academy.The training period variesfor different entrants.The duration of trainingis 6 months for Constables, I0 months forInspectors and Assistant Superintendents, 3 monthsfor National Serviceman, and 9 months for OfficerCadet Trainees. (Harman, 1991).Training includes course work in law, policeprocedures, government instructions, and practicaltraining in order to equip officers with theskills, knowledge, and attitudes required for alaw enforcement officer.Other programs are alsoavailable, such as pre-promotional training,vocational training to upgrade skills, anddevelopmental training to prepare officers forhigher responsibilities.(Harman, 1991).The Police Academy provides basic training toboth new and serving officers of the SingaporePolice Force (SPF).Their training includes 30course offerings for senior and junior officers.Training is also offered by Specialist Training

Units for serving officers of SPF.The p r o g r a m sare c o n d u c t e d at the Police S e c u r i t y Branch,Police Coast Guard, T r a f f i c Police, SpecialO p e r a t i o n s Command, C r i m i n a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n sDepartment, and the C o m p u t e r O p e r a t i o n s Command.(Vreeland, et.al., 1977; H a r m a n 1991).T r a i n i n g is also a v a i l a b l e for the m a n a g e m e n tand s u p e r v i s o r y cadre at the Civil S e r v i c eInstitute, S i n g a p o r e I n s t i t u t e of Management,N a t i o n a l P r o d u c t i v i t y Board, and other e d u c a t i o n a li n s t i t u t i o n s in Singapore.A b o u t 40 SPF o f f i c e r sare sent overseas a n n u a l l y for a d v a n c e d t r a i n i n gat the FBI, S c o t l a n d Yard, and the Japan N a t i o n a lPolice Academy. (Vreeland, et.al., 1977; H a r m a n1991).The m i n i m u m e d u c a t i o n a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n forentry into the senior o f f i c e r cadre is a g r a d u a t edegree.Junior o f f i c e r s are r e q u i r e d to havethree high school credits.All c a n d i d a t e s m u s thave no p h y s i c a l impediments. (Harman, 1991).5. Discretion.*Use of force.The use of a baton to subdue ad i s o r d e r l y p e r s o n after every other means hasfailed w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d r e a s o n a b l e force.D e a d l y force, i n c l u d i n g firing a gun, isa u t h o r i z e d and r e g u l a t e d by law.Duringpeacetime, a f i r e a r m can be used by an o f f i c e r whois in imminent danger of being killed or s e r i o u s l yinjured.It can also used by an o f f i c e r ins i t u a t i o n s where an o f f e n d e r has c o m m i t t e d rape ork i d n a p p i n g / a b d u c t i o n , and to p r o t e c t p r o p e r t y orp r e v e n t robbery and burglary.During a state ofemergency, an officer can use a w e a p o n a g a i n s tpersons s u s p e c t e d of c a r r y i n g weapons ande x p l o s i v e s to d e s t r o y p r o p e r t y or cause i n j u r y toothers.* S t o p / a p p r e h e n d a suspect.A police officer mayarrest a p e r s o n w i t h o u t w a r r a n t for any s e i z a b l eoffense, when a c o m p l a i n t is received, when thereis r e a s o n a b l e suspicion, when illegal b e h a v i o r isdiscovered, or when s u s p e c t e d s t o l e n goods are ina p e r s o n ' s possession.A c c o r d i n g to S e c t i o n 33 ofthe Criminal P r o c e d u r e Code (CPC), an o f f i c e r canmake an arrest for a n o n - s e i z a b l e o f f e n s e if thea c c u s e d refuses to i d e n t i f y himself or h e r s e l f ondemand. Section 16(I) (b) of the N a t i o n a lR e g i s t r a t i o n Act Cap 201 allows the p o l i c e toarrest any i n d i v i d u a l not c a r r y i n g ani d e n t i f i c a t i o n card who refuses to p r o v i d e his orher name and address.* D e c i s i o n to arrest.An arrest is made byt o u c h i n g or c o n f i n i n g the p e r s o n to be arrested,unless the p e r s o n submits to c u s t o d y by w o r d or

actions.An a r r e s t can be m a d e w i t h or w i t h o u twarrants. The CPC p r e s c r i b e s v a r i o u s c i r c u m s t a n c e sunder w h i c h a p o l i c e o f f i c e r can a r r e s t w i t h o u t awarrant.A p r i v a t e p e r s o n can also a r r e s t ani n d i v i d u a l who commits a n o n - b a i l a b l e and s e i z a b l eo f f e n s e or is w a n t e d by law e n f o r c e m e n t a n d aboutw h o m n o t i c e has been given.Generally, p o l i c e do not take any a c t i o n inthe case of m i n o r c o m p l a i n t s such as d o m e s t i cquarrels.If the c o m p l a i n a n t wishes, the p o l i c emay refer the m a t t e r to a m a g i s t r a t e to file ap r i v a t e c o m p l a i n t and initiate a p r i v a t eprosecution.In serious cases, the p o l i c e c o n d u c ti n v e s t i g a t i o n s by w o r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h theA t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l ' s Chambers.*Search and seizure.An o f f i c e r can s e a r c h ana r r e s t e d p e r s o n w i t h o u t a warrant.All a r t i c l e sfound on the p e r s o n can also be s e i z e d by theo f f i c e r if the o f f i c e r b e l i e v e s these items aretools of a crime.A c c o r d i n g to S e c t i o n 125 of theCPC, in the case of a s e i z a b l e offense, s e a r c h i n gany p l a c e for d o c u m e n t s and other p i e c e s ofe v i d e n c e that are n e c e s s a r y for the i n v e s t i g a t i o n sand that are o t h e r w i s e u n l i k e l y to be o b t a i n e d ispermissible.*Confessions.The E v i d e n c e Act, S e c t i o n 17,defines a c o n f e s s i o n as an a d m i s s i o n m a d e at anytime by a p e r s o n a c c u s e d of an offense, s t a t i n g ors u g g e s t i n g that he or she c o m m i t t e d that offense.Section 24 of the E v i d e n c e A c t states that ac o n f e s s i o n c a u s e d by inducement, t h r e a t or p r o m i s eis i n a d m i s s i b l e in a criminal p r o c e e d i n g .6. A c c o u n t a b i l i t y .PROSECUTORIALi. RightsANDof *Rights of the accused. The a c c u s e d is p r e s u m e di n n o c e n t until p r o v e n otherwise. U n d e r theS i n g a p o r e C o n s t i t u t i o n , the a c c u s e d p e r s o n m u s t ben o t i f i e d of the grounds for arrest.The S i n g a p o r eC o n s t i t u t i o n also g u a r a n t e e s e v e r y a r r e s t e d p e r s o na right to c o n s u l t and be d e f e n d e d by a legalp r a c t i t i o n e r of his or her choice.The a m e n d e dCPC Act of 1976 has also d i s t i n g u i s h e d thea c c u s e d ' s right to remain silent in the course ofa police investigation.(Constitution, A r t . 9 ( 3 ) . )* A s s i s t a n c e to the accused.The Legal A i d B u r e a uof the g o v e r n m e n t p r o v i d e s legal aid for civil

cases.Further, the Law S o c i e t y of S i n g a p o r ep r o v i d e s legal aid in n o n - c a p i t a l cases.In casesof crimes c a r r y i n g the death penalty, theR e g i s t r a r of the Supreme Court in the g o v e r n m e n t ' sb e h a l f assigns a lawyer for the defense.* P r e p a r a t o r y p r o c e d u r e s for b r i n g i n g a s u s p e c t totrial.In minor cases, an o f f i c e r will go to thescene of a crime to i n v e s t i g a t e the o f f e n s e and toarrest any a l l e g e d offenders.O f f i c e r s are alsoa u t h o r i z e d to have special powers to i n i t i a t ei n v e s t i g a t i o n s of serious offenses.When a policei n v e s t i g a t i o n d i s c l o s e s an offense, the A t t o r n e yG e n e r a l ' s Chambers (AG) has the d i s c r e t i o n toi n i t i a t e a criminal prosecution.Upon c o m p l e t i o n of the i n v e s t i g a t i o n , thep r o s e c u t o r will initiate the criminal p r o s e c u t i o nand the case will be p r e p a r e d for trial.Thecharge notifies the a c c u s e d of the offense.Theo f f e n d e r may be tried in a M a g i s t r a t e ' s Court, aDistrict Court, or High Court d e p e n d i n g on thes e r i o u s n e s s of the offense.A f t e r a review of the case, the M a g i s t r a t eissues a summons or a w a r r a n t of arrest to theaccused.An e x a m i n i n g m a g i s t r a t e then conducts ani n v e s t i g a t i o n to d e t e r m i n e if the case a g a i n s t thea c c u s e d justifies p r o c e e d i n g s in the High Court.Recently, a process has been i n s t i t u t e d inS i n g a p o r e courts to obtain i n f o r m a t i o n from thei n v o l v e d parties b e f o r e c o m m e n c e m e n t of the trialto help d e t e r m i n e the nature of the case.Theo b j e c t i v e of this p r o c e d u r e is to e x p e d i t ep r o c e e d i n g s by e n s u r i n g that the p a r t i e s are readyfor trial.As a general rule, all c r i m i n a l cases aretried by a single judge, with the e x c e p t i o n ofcapital o f f e n s e trials, which are c o n d u c t e d bycourts c o n s i s t i n g of two High Court Judges.* O f f i c i a l who conducts p r o s e c u t i o n .All criminalp r o c e e d i n g s for the state are r e p r e s e n t e d by thep u b l i c prosecutor.The A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s (AG)Chamber has the sole p r o s e c u t o r i a l d i s c r e t i o n andis r e s p o n s i b l e for all criminal p r o s e c u t i o n s .Toease the w o r k l o a d of the AG's office, d e p u t ypublic prosecutors supervise specially trainedp o l i c e p r o s e c u t o r s to conduct the p r o s e c u t i o n oflesser crimes.* A l t e r n a t i v e s to trial.The A t t o r n e y General, whois a Public Prosecutor, has the d i s c r e t i o n toinitiate, conduct, or d i s c o n t i n u e any p r o c e e d i n g sfor any offense.*ProportionInformationof p r o s e c u t e d cases g o i n g to trial.not available.

*Pre-trial incarcerationnot available.conditions.Information*Bail Procedure.An a c c u s e d m a y be r e l e a s e d onbail on the c o n d i t i o n that he or she appearsb e f o r e the court or p o l i c e until the case isc o m p l e t e and that the p e r s o n m a y not leaveS i n g a p o r e w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n from the court orpolice.An a c c u s e d may be r e l e a s e d on bail if theoffense is b a i l a b l e or if the a c c u s e d or a s u r e t yp r o v i d e s bail.However, the court or p o l i c e havethe power to release the i n d i v i d u a l on bailw i t h o u t a surety.*ProportionInformationJUDICIALof p r e - t r i a l o f f e n d e r snot available.incarcerated.SYSTEMI. A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .The S i n g a p o r e judicial s y s t e m has three tiersof courts which resemble the English system.TheJudicial C o m m i t t e e of the Privy Council is at thetop of the hierarchy, followed by the S u p r e m eCourts, and the S u b o r d i n a t e courts.The judicialpower is vested in the Supreme Court and in theS u b o r d i n a t e courts.The Judicial C o m m i t t e e Actd e t e r m i n e s select cases to be heard by the PrivyCouncil, which is the u l t i m a t e Court of A p p e a l s inthe S i n g a p o r e legal system. (The Europa W o r l d YearBook, 1993: 2516).The Supreme Court of J u d i c a t u r e Acte s t a b l i s h e d the Supreme Court of Singapore, w h i c hconsists of the High Court, the Court of Appeals,and the Court of C r i m i n a l Appeal.The High Courthas u n l i m i t e d o r i g i n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n in c r i m i n a land civil cases. (The Europa W o r l d Year Book,1993: 2516).The S u b o r d i n a t e Court Act i n c o r p o r a t e d theS u b o r d i n a t e Courts c o m p r i s i n g the D i s t r i c t ClaimsCourts, M a g i s t r a t e Courts, J u v e n i l e Courts,Coroners' Courts, and the Small Claims Courts.There are 30 D i s t r i c t and M a g i s t r a t e s Courts, oneJuvenile Court, and one C o r o n e r ' s Court.Districtand M a g i s t r a t e s ' Courts have original criminal andcivil jurisdiction.W h i l e the D i s t r i c t Courts trycases with a m a x i m u m I0 year p r i s o n penalty, theM a g i s t r a t e s ' Courts try offenses for w h i c h them a x i m u m term does not exceed 3 years.Further,the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of M u s l i m Law Act e s t a b l i s h e dthe Shariah Court.(The Europa W o r l d Year Book,1993: 2516).2. SpecialJuvenilecourts.Court.The J u v e n i l e Court was c r e a t e d by

the C h i l d r e n and Young Person Act of 1949.ThisAct p r e s c r i b e s the m e t h o d for p r o c e s s i n g j u v e n i l ed e l i n q u e n t s b e t w e e n fourteen and s i x t e e n yearsold.P r o c e e d i n g s of this court are not open tothe public.C o r o n e r ' s Court.The C o r o n e r is a p p o i n t e d by theP r e s i d e n t on the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of the ChiefJustice.The coroner may issue a w a r r a n t forpersons s u s p e c t e d of causing a death.3. Judges. * N u m b e r of judges.In 1992, there were ii judges,i n c l u d i n g the Chief Justice, and I0 JudicialC o m m i s s i o n e r s in the Supreme Court. (The EuropaW o r l d Year Book, 1993: 2516).* A p p o i n t m e n t and qualifications.S u p r e m e CourtJudges are a p p o i n t e d by the President, who acts onthe advice of the Prime M i n i s t e r and the ChiefJustice.Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s for a p p o i n t m e n t to theSupreme Court are d e s c r i b e d in A r t i c l e 96 of theConstitution.S u b o r d i n a t e Judges are g e n e r a l l y m e m b e r s ofthe S i n g a p o r e Legal Service.T h e y do not e n j o ythe s e c u r i t y of tenure.District Court Judges andM a g i s t r a t e s are a p p o i n t e d by the P r e s i d e n t on ther e c o m m e n d a t i o n of the Chief Justice.P E N A L T I E S ANDSENTENCINGi. S e n t e n c i n g process.*Who d e t e r m i n e s the sentence?S e n t e n c e s arep a s s e d by the court. The High Court can d e t e r m i n ethe s e n t e n c e a u t h o r i z e d by the law, w h i l e theDistrict and M a g i s t r a t e ' s courts are r e s t r i c t e d inthe type of sentences they can impose. (Leong1990).*Is there a special s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g ?Thereno special s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g (Leong 1990).is*Which p e r s o n s have input into the s e n t e n c i n gp r o c e s s ? I n f o r m a t i o n not available.2. Typesof penalties.*Range of penalties.The range of p e n a l t i e sinclude fines, strokes of the cane, various othern o n - c u s t o d i a l alternatives, imprisonment, anddeath.There are many a l t e r n a t i v e s to i n c a r c e r a t i o np r o v i d e d by the S i n g a p o r e Penal Code. For

instance, n o n - c u s t o d i a l s a n c t i o n s can be i m p o s e dsuch as fines, c o n d i t i o n a l discharge, a b s o l u t edischarge, and p r o b a t i o n orders.There are alsoa l t e r n a t i v e s to i m p r i s o n m e n t at the p o s t - s e n t e n c estage, such as a s e n t e n c e r e m i s s i o n and aw o r k - r e l e a s e scheme.Prisoners s e n t e n c e d to d e a t hare not e l i g i b l e for these programs. (Chieng, 1990)N o n - c u s t o d i a l sanctions for j u v e n i l eo f f e n d e r s include options such as a c q u i t t a l ordischarge, release on bond, c o m m i t m e n t to the careof a relative, probation, and p a r o l e for o f f e n d e r sr e l e a s e d from a p p r o v e d schools.In addition, n e wp r o g r a m s such as home d e t e n t i o n and c o m m u n i t yservice are being tried as viable n o n - c u s t o d i a lsanctions. (Hah, 1984)*Death penalty.The Ddath p e n a l t y is p r e s c r i b e dfor m u r d e r and the t r a f f i c k i n g of c e r t a i nc o n t r o l l e d drugs.The m e t h o d of e x e c u t i o n is byhanging. (Jayasuriya, 1984).PRISONi. Description.*Number of prisons and type.The i n f o r m a t i o n onthe number and type of prisons are l a r g e l y d e r i v e dfrom the 1970's.This d a t e d m a t e r i a l states thatS i n g a p o r e prisons held a d a i l y a v e r a g e ofa p p r o x i m a t e l y 3,000 prisoners.Prison p r o g r a m sfocused on r e h a b i l i t a t i o n and i n d i v i d u a l i z e dt r e a t m e n t and the p r i s o n e r s were s e g r e g a t e d by sexand age. (Vreeland, et.al., 1977).During the same time p e r i o d there were 4prisons for adult males, one female m i n i m u ms e c u r i t y prison, and a t r a i n i n g school forjuvenile o f f e n d e r s b e t w e e n 16 and 21 years old.Juveniles b e l o w 16 years old were sent by thecourts to a p p r o v e d homes for girls or boys.The Q u e e n s t o w n Remand Prison is a m i n i m u ms e c u r i t y prison and serves the p u r p o s e ofr e c e i v i n g a n d c l a s s i f y i n g new convicts and thosea w a i t i n g trial.The Changi Prison is a m a x i m u ms e c u r i t y p r i s o n for those with a p r i s o n s e n t e n c ee x c e e d i n g 3 years.In addition, the M o o n C r e s c e n tat Changi and the Khasa C r e s c e n t Centers serve asa m e d i u m s e c u r i t y p r i s o n and a d e t e n t i o n home forthose a w a i t i n g trail.The p r i s o n s y s t e m alsoincludes p r e - r e l e a s e centers to assist long t e r mp r i s o n e r s with their reentry into society.(Vreeland, et.al., 1977).*Number of p r i s o n beds.I n f o r m a t i o n not available.

*Number of annual admissions.In 1988, thei n c a r c e r a t i o n rate was 183.3 per I00,000population.Those c o m m i t t e d to DrugR e h a b i l i t a t i o n Centers were e x c l u d e d in thisfigure. (Chieng 1990).*Average d a i l y p o p u l a t i o n / n u m b e rI n f o r m a t i o n not available.of prisoners.*Actual or e s t i m a t e d p r o p o r t i o n s of inmatesincarcerated. I n f o r m a t i o n not available.2. A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .*Administration.The D i r e c t o r

WORLD FACTBOOK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS SINGAPORE Mahesh Nalla Michigan State University This country report is one of many prepared for the World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems under Bureau of Justice Statistics grant No. 90-BJ-CX-0002 to the State University