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Abstract
This article will examine the prevalence of crimes committed by juvenile offenders in Singapore, trace the measures taken to address such offenders (such as probation, community service, institutionalisation and so on), look at the success of such measures and, finally, comment on the recent spate of gang activities leading to severe injuries and the measures currently being considered.
Introduction
Singapore is no different from most, if not all, countries in the world which recognise that young persons are different from adults and that young offenders should be dealt with through special measures*. Singapore's former Chief Justice, Yong Pung How, in Public Prosecutor ? Mok Ping Wuen Maurice, said:
Rehcuhilitation is tire dominant consideration where the offender is 21 years and below. Young offenders are in their formative years and chances of reforming them into law-abiding adults are better. The corrupt influence of a prison environment and the bad effects of ^belling and stigmatisation may not be desirable for young offenders. Compassion is often shown to young offenders on the assumption that the young (dont know any better* and they may not have had enough experience to realise the full consequences of their actions on themselves and on others. Teens may also be slightly hss responsibh than older offenders, being more impressionable, more easily led and less controlled in their behaviour. (1998: paragraph 21)
A 'juvenile' in Singapore is defined in legislation as 'a male or female person who is 7 years of age or above and below the age of 16 years' (Children and Young Persons Act: section 2). Hence, only those who are between 7 and 16 years old may be brought before the Juvenile Court. Those who are between 16 and 21 years old, however, are considered as young adults and suitable consideration may be given to their youth in terms of sentencing by the adult criminal courts**.
In this article, only those juveniles who have committed a criminal offence and are admitted into the juvenile justice system or, exceptionally, have been diverted from it, are considered. It is beyond the scope of this article to consider the prevalence and issues of juvenile 'delinquency' which involve those who may exhibit behaviour which indicates criminality, such as persistent disregard for authority,...