What does Singapore have that the US doesn't?
Punishments prescribed under the Singapore Penal Code are: death; imprisonment; forfeiture of property; fine; and caning. Apart from these penalties, habitual offenders may be sentenced to corrective and reformative training, preventive detention.
I haven't seen anything to suggest they are meeting with results any better than US and there has been a striking increase in prison population, which could mean that judges in
Singapore have preferred to use imprisonment more frequently or could just mean that they are handing out longer sentences. Either way - no notable decrease in crime.
L&T - once again, right on the money. Without prevention and early intervention "little crimes" almost inevitably become "big crimes."