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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 

See also: Criminal Procedure resources

Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Tan Fong Han '20 (LL.B. (Hon.) NUS) for her advice and assistance in this section.

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.

Community 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, #B1-18, 1 Havelock Square, Singapore 059724
Tel: +65 6534 1564
Contact Form: https://www.lawsocprobono.org/Pages/Criminal-Legal-Aid-Scheme.aspx#contact 

2. Criminal Legal Assistance Schemes

Website: https://www.judiciary.gov.sg/legal-help-support/criminal-case

Includes:

  • Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences (LASCO)
  • Remand Clinic
  • Other schemes administered by other bodies

3. Community Justice Centre

Administers various schemes, including:

Refer to the following statutes and related subsidiary legislation on Singapore Statutes Online.

Note: The lists are not exhaustive.

A. 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  -

B. Other Major Primary and Subsidiary Legislation in Singapore

Primary Legislation Link to Subsidiary Legislation
Arms & Explosives Act SL
Arms Offences Act -
Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act SL
Copyright Act see IPOS Copyright Infringement & Enforcement page for more information. SL
Corrosive & Explosive Substances & Offensive Weapons Act -
Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act SL
Dangerous Fireworks Act SL
Enlistment Act SL
Explosive Substances Act -
Films Act SL
Kidnapping Act -
Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act SL
Misuse of Drugs Act SL
Moneylender's Act [Sections 14 & 28] SL
Organised Crime Act 2015 SL
Penal Code  
Prevention of Corruption Act SL
Undesirable Publications Act SL
Vandalism Act  
Women’s Charter [Sections 65(8) and 140(1)(i)] SL

(source: adapted from https://www.lawsocprobono.org/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"

Select Committee Reports on Bills

Explanatory Notes 

Law Reform Reports

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.

UK

Westlaw

  • Navigate to International Materials > United Kingdom > Cases

ICLR (for official law reports)

Lexis Advance Singapore

  • Toggle jurisdiction to "United Kingdom" and select "Content Type: UK Cases" to narrow to UK case law
  • Contains various UK law reports and Lexis proprietary law reports, e.g. All England Law Reports
  • Also contains cases from various other common law jurisdictions

Australia

Lexis Advance Singapore

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

Singapore

Image result for understanding criminal law chandra Understanding criminal law 
Chandra Mohan S. (Shunmugam), author.
Singapore : LexisNexis, [2017]
Criminal law in Singapore 
Chan Wing Cheong (author), Neil Morgan (author) & Stanley Yeo (author).
Singapore : LexisNexis, 2022.
Image result for criminal law in malaysia and singapore a casebook companion Criminal law in Malaysia and Singapore : a casebook companion 
Yeo, Stanley Meng Heong.
Singapore : LexisNexis, 2013.
Image result for criminal law for the 21st century a model code for singapore Criminal law for the 21st century : a model code for Singapore 
Chan, Wing Cheong.
Singapore : Academy Publishing, 2013.
 

 India 

Image result for gaur textbook on indian penal code 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.
Image result for psa pillai's criminal law

P.S.A. Pillai's criminal law 
Atchuthen Pillai, P. S.
New Delhi : LexisNexis Butterworths India, 2012. 
Image result for the principles of the law of crimes huda syed The principles of the law of crimes 
Huda, Syed Shamshul.
Lucknow : Eastern Book Co., 2011.
Image result for r a nelsons indian penal code R.A. Nelson's Indian Penal Code 
Nelson, Reginald A. (Reginald Arbouin)
Nagpur : LexisNexis ButterWorths, 2008.
 

Sentencing

Image result for sentencing practice in the subordinate courts Sentencing practice in the Subordinate Courts. 

Singapore : LexisNexis, 2013.
Sentencing principles in Singapore
Kow, Keng Siong.
Singapore : Singapore Academy of Law, 2019.

Acknowledgement & Contacts

Clement Lin Zikai '18 (LL.B. (Hon.) NUS) was the editor of this page from Jan 2019 to April  2022.

For any queries relating to this Libguide, please email cjkohlib@nus.edu.sg.