LibGuides: Pro Bono: Criminal Law

Introduction

Pro bono resources on criminal law. Might be of interest to the following groups:

accused persons
pro bono lawyers
students assisting with pro bono work

Resources

	Know the Law Now Published by the Law Society Pro-Bono Services, Chapter IV contains information on Criminal Proceedings i.e. Arrest and Investigation, Charge and Bail Bond, Case Management, Pleading Guilty, Mitigation and Sentencing, Trial and Appeal and Magistrate's Complaints and Private Summons.
	Pro Bono Guide Published by the Law Society of Singapore, Chapters 6, 7, and 8 contain information on Criminal Legal Aid.
	Legal Clinic Manual : Criminal Law and Procedure Published by the Law Society of Singapore, this book contains detailed guidance to volunteer lawyers. The criminal law and procedure section contains sections on: Arrest, Custody & Police Bail; Police Investigations; Being Charged in Court; Court Bail; The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme; Magistrate's Complaints; Spent Criminal Records; Juvenile Crimes/Offences. NUS Law students may obtain the password from the Centre for Pro Bono & Clinical Legal Education (probono@nus.edu.sg).
	Guidebook for Accused In Person: A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court Written and Published by the Community Justice Centre of the Singapore State Courts, this guidebook is meant to help self-represented accused understand the criminal process.

1. Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (for non-capital offences)

Website: https://www.lawsocprobono.org/Pages/Criminal-Legal-Aid-Scheme.aspx
Add: The State Courts of Singapore, Level 5 (office beside Court No. 5), 1 Havelock Square, Singapore 059724
Tel: +65 6534 1564
Email: clas@lawsoc.org.sg

2. Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences (LASCO)

Website: www.supremecourt.gov.sg/services/self-help-services/legal-assistance-for-capital-offences

Note: The following lists of statutes are not exhaustive.

Historical Background to Major Criminal Law Legislation

Current	Historically Known As	Link to Subsidiary Legislation
Criminal Procedure Code	Criminal Procedure Ordinance of 1890	SL
Evidence Act	Evidence Act 1872	SL
Penal Code	Ordinance No. IV of 1871	-

Other Major Primary and Subsidiary Legislation in Singapore

Primary Legislation	Link to Subsidiary Legislation
Arms & Explosives Act (Cap. 13)	SL
Arms Offences Act (Cap. 14)	-
Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (Cap. 50A)	SL
Copyright Act (Cap. 63) see IPOS Copyright Criminal Offenses page for more information.	SL
Corrosive & Explosive Substances & Offensive Weapons Act (Cap. 65)	-
Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act	SL
Dangerous Fireworks Act (Cap. 72)	SL
Enlistment Act (Cap. 93)	SL
Explosive Substances Act (Cap. 100)	-
Films Act (Cap. 107)	SL
Kidnapping Act (Cap. 151)	-
Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act (Cap. 184)	SL
Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185)	SL
Moneylender's Act (Cap. 188) [Sections 14 & 28]	SL
Organised Crime Act 2015	SL
Penal Code (Cap. 224)
Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap. 241)	SL
Undesirable Publications Act (Cap. 338)	SL
Vandalism Act (Cap. 341)
Women’s Charter (Cap. 353) [Sections 65(8) and 140(1)(i)]	SL

(source: adapted from http://probono.lawsociety.org.sg/Pages/Criminal-Legal-Aid-Scheme.aspx)

Parliamentary Debates

Official Reports - Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
For a more efficient search:
- Type in name of bill into search box e.g. "Penal Code" or "Arms and Explosives"
- Omit the word "Act" if you are looking for parliamentary debates on Bills e.g. "Miscellaneous Offences" without "Act"
- Check the "Search within titles only" box
- Search options "Exact phrase search"

Explanatory Notes

LawNet (access: NUS Law) (access: Other NUS staff & students)
Note: Explanatory notes are only available for selected Bills
For a more efficient search:
- Click "Legal Research" > Legislation
- Under the "Legislation" page, select "Browse > Bills Supplements"
- Browse Bills in Alphabetical Order e.g. select "C" > "Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill"

Select Committee Reports on Bills

Select Committee Reports at the Parliament of Singapore Website
LawNet (access: NUS Law) (access: Other NUS staff & students)
- Select checkboxes for "SPRS" and "Select Committee Reports" when conducting keyword search

Law Reform Reports

Law Reform e-Archive at the Singapore Academy of Law Website
LawNet (access: NUS Law) (access: Other NUS staff & students)
- Conduct search for : ( "Law Reform Committee" AND keyword )

Subject Browsing

Step 1: Login to LawNet (access: Faculty of Law staff and students) (access: Other NUS staff & students)

Step 2: Click on "Legal Research" tab and select the "Subject Browse"

Step 3: Find "Criminal Law" in the Subject Tree

Step 4: Click on the folder icon to view sub-classes of the Criminal Law Subject Tree

Step 5: Click on the "Criminal Law" to view relevant cases. If you are unable to locate your desired subject on the subject tree, try the following techniques.

Relevant jurisdictions and how to access cases:

India

Manupatra

Cases from High Courts and Supreme Court of India.

Westlaw

Navigate to International Materilas -> United Kingdom -> Cases

Lexis Library

All England Law Reports
All England (Direct)
All ER Reprints.

Australia

Lexis Advance Singapore

Toggle jurisdiction to "Australia" and select "Content Type: AU Cases" to narrow to Australian case law

Singapore

	Understanding criminal law Chandra Mohan S. (Shunmugam), author. Singapore : LexisNexis, [2017]
	Criminal law in Malaysia and Singapore Yeo, Stanley Meng Heong, author. Singapore : LexisNexis, 2018.
	Criminal law in Malaysia and Singapore : a casebook companion Yeo, Stanley Meng Heong. Singapore : LexisNexis, 2013.
	Criminal law for the 21st century : a model code for Singapore Chan, Wing Cheong. Singapore : Academy Publishing, 2013.

India

	Textbook on Indian penal code Gaur, K. D. (Krishna Deo), 1937- Haryana, India : Universal Law Publishing, [2016].
	Ratanlal & Dhirajlal the Indian Penal Code, 36th Edition Ratanlal Ranchhoddas, author. Haryana, India : Lexis Nexis, 2019.
	Ratanlal & Dhirajlal's law of crimes : a commentary on the Indian Penal Code, 1860 Ratanlal Ranchhoddas. New Delhi : Bharat Law House, 2013.
	P.S.A. Pillai's criminal law Atchuthen Pillai, P. S. New Delhi : LexisNexis Butterworths India, 2012.
	The principles of the law of crimes Huda, Syed Shamshul. Lucknow : Eastern Book Co., 2011.
	R.A. Nelson's Indian Penal Code Nelson, Reginald A. (Reginald Arbouin) Nagpur : LexisNexis ButterWorths, 2008.

Sentencing

	Sentencing practice in the Subordinate Courts. Singapore : LexisNexis, 2013.
	Sentencing principles in Singapore, 2nd Edition Kow, Keng Siong. Singapore : Singapore Academy of Law, 2019.