Three studies commissioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have revealed that the majority of Singaporeans support the use of the death penalty
Three studies commissioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have revealed that the majority of Singaporeans support the use of the death penalty for the most serious crimes, such as trafficking large quantities of drugs, intentional murder, and the use of firearms.
The findings also show that most Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) believe the death penalty is effective in deterring these serious crimes.
According to MHA, the three studies include:
A study on attitudes toward capital punishment commissioned in 2019 and conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS 2020).
A survey on the attitudes of Singapore residents towards the death penalty conducted by the MHA Research and Statistics Division in 2021 (RSD 2021).
A study on regional perceptions of Singapore’s crime situation, law, and safety, conducted by the Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre in 2018 and 2021 (HTBSC 2021).
Majority Support for Death Penalty in Serious Crimes
The IPS 2020 study found that 74% of 2,000 Singapore residents and PRs agreed with using the death penalty for the most serious crimes. Furthermore, 58.6% supported retaining the death penalty in Singapore, with 53.7% supporting its use in general.
As for specific crimes:
71.4% supported the death penalty for intentional murder.
61.5% supported its use for trafficking significant amounts of drugs.
60.1% supported the death penalty for the use of firearms intending to cause harm.
The RSD 2021 study similarly found that 73.7% of respondents supported the death penalty for serious crimes, with 80.5% backing it for intentional murder, 71.1% for firearm use, and 65.6% for drug trafficking. Additionally, the study revealed that if given a choice, a large majority of respondents would still prefer some form of death penalty over life imprisonment for these serious crimes.
Minority Views
Of the 11.2% minority who disagreed with the use of the death penalty, 43.9% cited the need for rehabilitation or a second chance for offenders. Another 23.6% cited pro-life reasons, while a smaller group believed discretion was needed in sentencing.
Strong Belief in Deterrence
All three studies showed that most Singaporeans believe the death penalty effectively deters serious crimes. The IPS 2020 study found that 78.2% of respondents viewed it as a deterrent, while 78.9% believed it specifically deterred drug trafficking.
The RSD 2021 study revealed that 83.2% of respondents agreed that the death penalty deters drug trafficking, with 85.9% agreeing it deters both firearm offenses and intentional murder.
High Confidence in Singapore’s Criminal Justice System
The RSD 2021 study also revealed that 88.5% of respondents had confidence in fair and rigorous investigations for death penalty cases, while 88.1% believed that trials for such cases are fair. Additionally, 85.3% believed there were sufficient safeguards to prevent wrongful executions.
MHA concluded, “The studies show strong support for the death penalty in Singapore, with a clear view that it effectively deters drug trafficking and is more effective than life imprisonment in doing so.”
Top Photos via Singapore Prison Services & Unsplash.
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