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Sentencing Reform in Singapore – Are the Guidelines in England and Wales a Useful Model?

Amardeep Singh s/o Gurcharan Singh

(2018) 30 SAcLJ 175

Abstract:
At the Sentencing Conference of 2014, Singapore’s Judge of Appeal Justice Chao Hick Tin announced that Singapore would adopt a system of guideline judgments to enhance consistency in sentencing. This article explores the model of guideline judgments and examines if it has achieved its objective. The article then evaluates the English system of sentencing guidelines and discusses whether Singapore would be better served in adopting the English model instead. The article concludes that Singapore should adopt the English system of guidelines because it produces greater consistency in sentencing and significantly enhances the public’s confidence in Singapore’s courts and its judges.