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Homicide in Singapore

NCJ Number
162615
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1995) Pages: 151-164
Author(s)
W Wilbanks
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study presents statistics on homicide in Singapore and comparison of homicide patterns in Singapore and the United States.
Abstract
Several international comparisons of crime rates indicate that Singapore has among the lowest, if not the lowest, crime rate in the industrialized world. It is difficult to compare the crime rates of the US and Singapore since the crime categories for the two countries are not totally compatible. However, this comparison of homicide patterns shows that overall the US homicide rate was five times greater; variations between the sexes and across racial/ethnic groups was much less in Singapore; and the sharpest difference in homicide rates involved gun homicides and the death penalty. Gun homicide rates in the United States were 197 times the Singapore rate, while the death penalty was used 15 times as often in Singapore. This article presents Singapore homicide trend data, basic demographic patterns, and a summary of dispositions for those arrested in 1991 cases. The appendix includes narratives of the 55 homicides recorded in Singapore for 1991 for aspects of the homicides not discussed in the analysis. Tables, references, appendix