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MINLAW HISTORY - Coggle Diagram
MINLAW HISTORY
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Background on MINLAW
Aims to advance access to justice, rule of law, economy and society via policy, law and services
Responsible for legal reforms, intellectual property rights, and the administration of the justice system, etc.
Council-specific: Tasked by govt. to deal with growing voices for reform to Singapore's CJS and Penal Code, especially to younger demographic
Often conducts public consultations with relevant stakeholders on the ground when formulating recommendations to Minster for Law (Edwin Tong) & public consultation papers on its website to encourage feedback
Threshold for Justice
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Utilitarianism
E.g. Capital punishment and caning, death by
hanging, kidnapping, drug-related offences
and unlawful possession and use of firearms
Injustice objection: maximising overall happiness results
in less weight being given to commonsense rights
Deterrence & rehab. are upheld for moral worth but
mainly their contribution to societal stability and welfare
Question: Does viewing indv. rights from a utilitarian perspective result in the erosion of said rights in order to achieve the highest level of societal welfare?
The goal of the Singapore Courts is not to uphold ethical standards by focusing on the moral worth of the action, but acting as an extension of the state, shaping behaviour to fit a broader social agenda
Cluelessness objection: utilitarianism makes the consequences unknown as it is evaluated differently
from an actions inherent moral worth
Efficacy of Death Penalty: no definitive case showing
that it acts as a good deterrent against drug crime
- The fluidity of moral standards must be considered
- Whether justice deviating from ethics and morality
is cause for concern
- Whether the CJS addresses the population's evolving expectations
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Civil Society Actors and
Human Rights Advocates
(e.g. NGOs, advoc. groups)
Acts as a form of check and balance on the legal system to ensure that it operates ethically and aligns with Singapore's self-proclaimed democratic values
In the event of abuses or inequities, they advocate for reforms to protect fundamental rights, particularly against stringent/controversial laws
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Correctional Institutions
(e.g. Prisons, probational
services, rehab. facilities)
Facilitate the reintegration of criminals into society as changed individuals ready to make a positive contribution to Singapore
MINLAW's approach shapes the strategies these institutions employ to reduce recidivism and promote successful reintegration
General Public
Legislative frameworks pushed by legislative bodies are only effective if they are supported by the public as they are a beneficiary of the legal system they work to shape
As Singapore is a democratic state, civic participation and public discourse are imperative for consultation measures to have an impact on law-making processes
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