Corporal Punishment

            Everyday Americans try to deal with the crime problem in many ways. Whether it is putting more police on the streets, tougher jails, or longer jail sentences, crime rates keep increasing. More of the taxpayers' dollars are going to the building of new jails than to anything else, which seems okay because more of the criminals will be locked up. It is said that on average, 15 future crimes are eliminated for each additional prisoner locked up. This makes the people feel safer, knowing that they are off the streets and that SO many of the crimes are being eliminated. But, everyday 14 people are murdered, 48 are raped, 578 are robbed by criminals who have been caught, convicted, and released from jail or prison. These statistics are very high and something has to be done if Americans want a safer country.
             Singapore, which can be found in Malaysia, has the lowest crime rate in the world. Many people believe it is because of there severe discipline. For example if you are caught stealing you could be sentenced to a jail term and a caning sentence where you could be hit as little as 4 times or as many as 24 times (depending on the severity of the crime). Statistics show that in Singapore approximately 3,500 men are caned each year. 280 of these men range in age of 16-19, 1,505 men are in their 20's, 1,050 men are in their 30's and 630 men are in their 40's. The instrument they use to hit you with is called a Rattan. It is a tough slender stem that can be made into a switch or a cane. It is the width of a mans little finger and it is about 4 ½ feet long. The rattan is soaked in water so that it becomes more flexible. The strokes must all be inflicted at the same time and not in installments. .
             Men ranging in 16-60 are eligible for this punishment. All of these criminals are not only sentenced to a caning but also given a jail or prison sentence.
             When a crime is committed here in America the criminal would have a trial in front of a judge/jury.