Singapore on Monday enacted a law that will allow “dangerous criminals” to be detained long after their prison sentences have expired.
The law applies to adults aged 21 and older who have been convicted of crimes such as rape, manslaughter or sexual activity with a minor and who are considered to be at risk of reoffending after release.
“Offenders who continue to pose a grave risk to others should not be released,” Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in a speech in parliament.
He cited as an example the case of a man convicted of raping his 6-year-old stepdaughter. After being released from prison, this man continued to sexually abuse his sister’s 10-year-old granddaughter in 2015, and his girl’s 9-year-old sister in 2017.
“We have to deal with these kinds of threats and protect society,” Shanmugam said.
According to the new rules, criminals who have completed their sentences in prison will be required to declare to the interior minister that they no longer pose a threat to the public before being released from custody.
A review panel made up of retired judges, lawyers, psychologists and psychiatrists will advise the minister. Offenders and their lawyers may submit their claims to the commission. The cases of those deemed unsuitable for release are reviewed annually.
According to Singapore, the law affects fewer than 30 offenders a year.
The federal government, 20 states, and the District of Columbia have similar laws in place for sex offenders deemed to have the potential to commit new crimes.
Despite some cautious advice, Singapore’s bill was passed with wide support, including from opposition parties.
Opposition Labor Party MP Sylvia Lim said it was difficult to predict future acts of violence and could lead to “over-detaining someone based on false predictions of risk”.
Mr Lim said judges already had the power to impose consecutive sentences, which could keep offenders incarcerated for much of their lives. This is a better option than leaving it up to civil authorities to decide when to release criminals.
The NGO Human Rights Watch said it opposed the policy of extending detention as it violated due process rights.
(With input from agency)