Difference between revisions of "Singapore"
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*[http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-CONST&doctitle=CONSTITUTION%20OF%20THE%20REPUBLIC%20OF%20SINGAPORE%0A&date=latest&method=part&sl=1 Constitution of the Republic of Singapore] | *[http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-CONST&doctitle=CONSTITUTION%20OF%20THE%20REPUBLIC%20OF%20SINGAPORE%0A&date=latest&method=part&sl=1 Constitution of the Republic of Singapore] | ||
| + | *[http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-224 Penal Code] | ||
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Revision as of 05:30, 1 March 2011
ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLEGAL TRAINING RESOURCE CENTER |
Background
The Republic of Singapore is a prosperous island nation in Southeast Asia. Singapore, also known as "Lion City," consists of the main island of Singapore plus 63 offshore islands. Originally founded in 1819 as a British trading colony, Singapore gained independence from the British in 1963, merged with Malaysia for two years, and became fully independent in 1965. Today, Singapore is a leading financial center and high-tech hub. It also has one of the busiest ports in the world. The estimated GDP in 2010 was $292.2 billion. The most common industries in Singapore’s export-driven economy are consumer electronics, information technology products, pharmaceuticals, and financial services.
Nearly 5 million people live in Singapore, and the entire population lives in an urban setting. The population is 77% Chinese, 14% Malay, and 7% Indian. Between one-third and one-fourth of the population are foreigners. Buddhism is the most popular religion (42.5%), followed by Muslim (14.9%), and Christian (9.8%). There are four official languages: Mandarin, English, Malay, and Tamil. The national anthem is exclusively sung in Malay. The life expectancy of 82 years is among the highest in the world, and 92.5% of the population is literate. [1] [2]
Type of System
A former British colony, Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a legal system based on English common law. The constitution is based on the pre-independent State of Singapore Constitution, and it was written in 1959 and amended in 1965. [3] There are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The judicial branch has a Supreme Court, divided into the Court of Appeal and the High Court, as well as Subordinate Courts and a Constitutional Tribunal. There are several specialized courts, such as a Community Court and a Bail Court, to encourage efficiency and strict case management. [4] The judge decides both legal and factual issues. The jury system was abolished in 1970. [5]
Sources of Defendants' Rights
Defendants' Rights
Pre-Trial
Trial
Post-Conviction
See Criminal Justice Systems Around the World
QUICK FACTS
- Mid-2009 Prison Population: 12,944 (national prison administration, via Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
- Official Prison Capacity: 13, 876 (92% occupancy level)
- Mid-2009 Prison Population Composition: 16.3% foreign prisoners, 15.4% pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners, 9.8% female prisoners, 4.7% juveniles/minors/young prisoners (2007 average)
