Crime and Punishment in Various Countries Five Works Cited The effectiveness of the United States criminal legal system has been questioned and analyzed by the media and analysts legal for decades. Even with laws that lengthen sentences and try younger offenders as adults, the nation's overall crime rate is still rising. But why are crime rates so low in places like Iceland and Singapore and yet both countries have very contrasting criminal laws? It has been brought to my attention that Congress will attempt to create a whole new criminal legal system for states to adopt, in an effort to finally make America's streets safer for its citizens. Assuming that all states will give up their own policies to adopt the system built by Congress, it is my duty to shed light on the criminal legal system and the different opinions of the legal systems of the United States and other countries and the different opinions of the United States and of other countries. countries with different governments, geographic areas and legal systems. I will also explore the common ground they share in prosecuting criminals. The information I discover will be considered by lawmakers when designing a new and improved criminal justice system. First, it is important to take a close look at the crime rate that occurs in America. The United States has more citizens in prison than any other country. The United States' incarceration rate is second only to Russia's with 666 people incarcerated per 100,000. The United States makes up one-third of the world's incarcerated population, while accounting for only 5% of the population. (Father's Manifesto) The criminal justice system is slightly different in each state. For example, only thirty-eight states practice capital punishment while the other twelve use life imprisonment without parole as an alternative to the death sentence for serious offenders. The death penalty in the United States is one of the most criticized policies in American society. Under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, the Americas are protected against cruel and unusual punishment. While it does not clearly define what punishment is considered “cruel and unusual,” several campaigns argue that capital punishment is cruel and unusual and constitutes a direct violation of human rights. Organizations such as Amnesty International, a global human rights group, argue that capital punishment is not only inhumane, but does not deter crime any more effectively than other punishments that do not involve death. (Amnesty International) Other studies have shown that it actually costs up to three times more to put a person to death than to sentence them to life without parole. A death penalty case in Texas costs an average of $2.3 million, about three times the cost of imprisoning someone in a single cell with the highest level of security for forty years. (Hoppe 1A) Yet, with all the polls, statistics, and studies conducted to discourage the practice of the death penalty in the United States, other nations have found that the death penalty, as well as other harsh punishments, is not a violation of human and civil rights, but an effective tool for maintaining public safety. Singapore's criminal laws are some of the most extreme and consistent laws found anywhere in the world. His government still employs the use of corporal punishment for some crimes that in the United States would receive a simple parole sentence. Singaporeans have stated that although its punishments are severe and outrageous to some, their streets are safer, cleaner and the quality of life in Singapore is rated higher because of thesepunishments. In this country punishments that come under heavy crossfire in the United States are carried out quickly and as a result crime in Singapore is significantly lower than crime rates in the United States. (Father's Manifesto) There is a mandatory death sentence for narcotics offenders. A death penalty is also carried out immediately for anyone who opens fire while committing an unlawful act: whether or not you shoot someone or something is not taken into consideration. (FAQs on Singapore Law) Caning is another form of punishment carried out for crimes such as vandalism and sexual offences. The condemned are tied to a stand and the offender's exposed buttocks are whipped by a martial arts expert. Caning is usually accompanied by a prison sentence. Singapore officials say its tough laws and swift, harsh punishments are what set it apart from a crime-ridden place like New York City. (Father's manifesto)Of course, opponents of CP (corporal punishment) argue that this is also a cruel and unusual way to deter crime. However, those who argue this need only compare Singapore's crime rates to those of the United States. Caning or caning is indeed stressful and painful, but it is Singapore's alternative to costly long-term confinement. In this way criminals are quickly reformed and reintegrated into society as law-abiding citizens. Another factor to consider in Singapore's low crime rate is its geography and size. The country is located northeast of Indonesia, just south of Malaysia. It is approximately 3.5 times larger than Washington DC. It is arguable to say that the reason Singapore's crime rates are low compared to the United States is because of its small and controllable area. But is the size of a nation or governed territory a factor in determining crime rates? Consider the territory of Puerto Rico. It is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean; considerably smaller than Singapore. However, Puerto Rico's homicide rate is more than three times higher than that of the United States (National Center). The stark contrast between a place like Puerto Rico and Singapore and the United States is that, while citizens of the United States and Singapore enjoy a high standard of living, over half of Puerto Rico's population earns less than $11,000 a year. year. This brings us to another question in this research. Does a socioeconomic factor play a role in a country's crime rate? Another interesting fact is that there is no capital punishment in Puerto Rico. Their courts are organized similarly to those in Singapore. A magistrate judge is the one who hears the case, decides the verdict and issues the sentence. Puerto Rico's prisons are, for the most part, run by criminal gangs, dilapidated, infested with insects and pose a serious threat to the health of inmates. (Criminal Lexicon) The prison system has been under scrutiny for drastic and costly changes not only to prisons, but to juvenile treatment centers, disciplinary measures, and improvements in mental health care. The brutality of violence and disease in prisons appears sufficient to prevent anyone from committing a crime that would result in prison. Unfortunately, despite the abolition of capital punishment and anarchy in prisons, Puerto Rico is known for having one of the highest murder rates in the world. (Criminal Lexicon) After completing the criminal legal system of three random governments, it is interesting to see how each of them handles the ever-present demon called crime. When will there be a system in) 2000