SOC355, SUSS: Sociological Explanation for Low Crime in Singapore

This essay provides a comprehensive sociological analysis of Singapore's exceptionally low crime rate. It begins by highlighting Singapore's high ranking in the Safe Cities Index and then delves into the sociological justifications for this phenomenon. The essay focuses on Singapore's crime control model of justice, exploring its key features and objectives. It examines supporting theories of punishment, including the crime control model and the due process model, and discusses their application within the Singaporean context. The essay also investigates the influence of social norms and values, public perception of safety, and the social contract on crime rates. Furthermore, it explores relevant sociological theories of crime and deviance, such as classical criminology, positivism, and Durkheim's contributions, as well as the role of community policing and conflict theory. The essay also discusses the state/province justice system, the roles of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Chief Justice, and the implementation of criminology in Singapore. The essay utilizes academic sources and credible news sources to substantiate its arguments, providing a well-researched and insightful exploration of the factors contributing to Singapore's low crime rate.

1Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
Running head: WHY CRIME RATE IN SINGAPORE SO LOW?
Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
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2Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
Why Crime Rate in Singapore is so Low?
Introduction
Based on the results of the Safe Cities Index estimated in the year 2017, it has been
identified that Singapore has been ranked second in terms of low crime rates at by scoring 89.64.
This was only 0.16 less as compared to Japan, which was recognized as the top performer with a
value of 89.80 (NEC, 2017). This assignment aims to focus on highlighting the sociological
justifications to support the answer to the question associated with the presence of low or
minimum crime rates in Singapore. In addition, this approach also involves a Singapore crime
control model of justice along with the supporting theories, concepts, other social norms &
values, public perception, and social contracts, concepts, other social norms & values, public
perception, and social contracts.
Model and Theories of Crime
Crime Control Model
Crime control model has been developed for the justice administration across every
criminal department in Singapore, as it seeks to achieve the overall mission of minimizing the
crime rates within the nation. Since past years, the crime control model has focused, especially
on the responsibilities of each and every officials of the justice administration in Singapore so
that they do not forget to perform their daily-based duty of protecting the citizens. This model
was developed in order to protect the rights of the citizens and punish offenders and apprehend
them in an efficient manner at the same time. Follow-up of legal process under these activities
has also been highlighted in the criminal justice system of Singapore (CSAL, 2018). Some of the
crimes involve punishment such as death penalty for armed robbery, an attempt to murder, and
vandalism (Soltani, 2018). Other than death penalty punishment, harsher punishment such as

3Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
serving the jail for a maximum of 20 years to the offenders, who have physically abused a
victim. One of the new punishments include serving the jail for a complete 10 years along with a
fine as well as caning at the same time, especially to the offenders who have damaged the victim
in a severe way. This punishment is carried out by the prosecution of the abuser (Lum, 2018). At
present, several reforms in terms of crime policies have been initiated for the purpose of making
the punishment more effective in order to minimize the crimes at a higher rate.
With respect to this model, Supreme Court (2019) stated “Truth can at times be
purchased at too great a cost to society, and countries that conceived that ascertainment of truth
as the sole object of criminal procedure have been driven by irrefutable logic to introduce and
rely on torture as the main instrument of such procedure” are followed across different states in
Singapore.
Due Process Model of Criminal Justice
This model projects different features of the criminal justice system, which are to be
followed in each state or province in Singapore. Additionally, the prosecutions must seek to
collect all the evidences associated with the incident if they are to provide evidence to their
opinions. In addition to this prosecution, even the law enforcers are held responsible and
accountable for using every legal procedure, norms, and several legal criminal guidelines so that
justice can be served in every criminal case on behalf of the victims. Besides, the accused person
or an individual is not perceived as a convict until and unless the legal procedures and certain
norms prove that the accused person is a criminal. Thus, the powers of the police administration
in Singapore are limited for prohibiting any sort of oppression of the accused person or the
victim (Ministry of Law, 2018). Social norms such as public perception tend to govern salient
behavior and through this, other people might develop social abnormal behaviors. One of the

4Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
social reforms can be cited as “freedom of speech”, as this enables a development of callous
attitudes within people (Jiow, 2013, p. 23). In case of public perception on safety measures, a
need for the presence of police securities across different public areas along with arresting the
criminals in public places has been highlighted. Besides this, public perception have also
demanded a tightening of the Police Security through installment of security cameras across all
the public areas for being safe from offensive activities (Yi, 2017).
Sociological Theory of Crime and Deviance
Sociological theory is important, as it is associated with crimes that are taking place in
every society in Singapore. This theory enables in identifying the causes of criminal activities
occurring in the societies along with constructing the crime information by cooperating with its
members and implement legal norms along with different legal procedures to control the
criminal activities taking place. This benefit is enjoyed by every society of Singapore. Thus, it is
essential for the people to obey legal norms and laws within the society. The three influencing
sociological factors must be considered, which includes classical criminology, positivism, and
the Durkheim. In addition, classical criminology has favored in informing every legal procedure,
justice system, and Criminal Act information to each member of the society. This has favored in
reducing the overall criminal offense across every society in Singapore in recent years.
Positivism has favored in relying scientific on as well as technic-based knowledge for the
purpose of identifying the source or actual reason of an individual’s death. This also helps in
taking certain measures in an instant rather than to catch criminals. Durkheim factor also played
a major role in reducing the rate of crimes in Singapore, as it helped in developing an integrative
mindset among the society such as helping each other at times of criminal activities taking place
(SCCJR, 2016).

5Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
Community Policing and Conflict Theory
The approach of community policing has also been established by the Police departments
of different regions as well as the society present within the nation. The rise of the crime rate
created a threat in the society, thus the policing approach was developed to fight criminal
activities and terrorism by developing a bordering strategy. Its major aim was to protect the
territorial sovereignty along with social cohesion (Neng, 2012). Similarly, conflict theory solved
a problem of biases among the society members and helped in establishing a law that would treat
every member equally irrespective of their class and backgrounds (Bystrova & Gottschalk,
2015).
State/Province Justice System
In Singapore, legal norms and process are strictly followed by different State Courts
present in varied regions of the nation. This is mainly done for the purpose of ensuring that
justice is served in every ruling or resolutions made by the State Courts in the country. This type
of courts usually follows every legal procedure such as naming the parties within their legal
documents and making sure that the documents are provided by both the parties of the case. This
also helps in identifying the identity numbers of the existing parties, especially when they are
dead. But if they are alive, their presence is important with an identity card in every case. There
may be several special cases, which are usually handed over to the litigation representative for
ruling it out in the State Courts. In order to ensure that the identity card valid, it is essential for an
individual to provide FIN number, birth certificate, their passport number, or the other numbers
such as telephone numbers. In case of crime caused by the companies operating in Singapore,
these companies must provide their Unique Entity Number (UEN), as it is stated under the legal
procedures of Companies Act (Cap. 50). Similarly, if the companies operating in Singapore are

6Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
not registered under the Companies Act but registered in another country then, their
identification entity number is considered to be valid (State Courts, 2018).
Singapore Police Force (SPF) Administration Roles
The SPF engages in identifying and controlling the criminal activities taking place in
private as well as the public sector of the nation. They are also responsible for handling terrorist
activities taking place within the nation. Outreaching initiatives have also been developed so that
every citizen is able to report or inform the SPF about the criminal activities occurring within
their surroundings. On a similar note, it has also instructed bars across the regions of Singapore
are not to be opened until late nights. Cybercrimes are also secured by the SPF, as they also have
provided helpline number (1-800-722-6688) of SPF to report or inform in case of scams.
Security in transits may be of airplanes and public transportation system as well. The President
along with the Cabinet Minister of Singapore engage in terms of ruling cases by adopting
legislative norms, laws, and legal procedures (OSAC, 2018).
Chief Justice of the Nation
It is observed that public perceptions are not the same in every case. In this context, at the
time of dealing with changing their wrongful perceptions, the Chief Justice holds the
responsibility of addressing the matter to the public. Chief Justice holds a judiciary power and
further ensures that no arbitrary powers are practiced in any criminal cases in Singapore. They
frame certain case rulings to implement the legal rule and procedures of the Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council Amendment Act of 1989 (Keong, 2012).

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Criminology in Singapore
Implementing criminology (Positivism) has also favored the nation in reducing the crime
rate by developing strategies of understanding the psychopathic personalities as well as behavior
of the criminals, especially the crimes involving youths and gang of offenders. In Singapore
majority of crimes are associated with disputes among members. Rehabilitation programs and
crime–based interventions have been greatly emphasized by the criminal administration of
Singapore (Chu et al., 2013). Focusing on the crime scenario in the US, it is observed that
criminology theory is widely implemented in identifying the major source of criminal activities
occurring within the national boundaries. Punishing the criminals or offenders has been one of
the solutions in dealing with criminals. On the other hand, the US follow criminology in making
the major targets (people or female) to look unattractive as one of the sources have been
identified for being an attractiveness of the targeted person by criminals. Classical as well as
rational choice theory is mostly focused by the nation in reducing the crime rate across every
region in the country (Akers & Sellers, 2013).
Conclusion
From the overall understanding, it has been understood that for many years, an initiative
towards reducing the crime rate in Singapore was highly needed. Implementing different
interventions into daily-based social practices, it identified major areas that lacked and further
reformed many legal norms, procedures as well as the laws that would ensure the safeguarding of
the citizens from being victimized by the criminals. Focusing more on these crime prevention
interventions in recent years, its effectiveness was portrayed in reducing the crime rate that
occurred in different societies of the country. At present, these initiatives have ultimately helped
the nation to be one of the top countries to have a low crime rate.

8Why Crime Rate in Singapore so Low?
References
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