Sex with Minors-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Review the Law on Sex with Minors that does not have to be Persuasive. Answer: Introduction Sex with minors attracts considerable attention not only from those directly affected by the vice, but from the general public as well. In recent times, there has been a call to review the existing law that concerns sex with minors (Beech, Elliott, Birgden, Findlater, 2008). In doing so, those involved are to look at several factors that will ultimately make the law more just and acceptable. Thus, a review of the law must be one that includes a study on whether the law is stiffer or lenient, public participations or consultations and considers the various classes upon which the crime falls. Factors to consider in reviewing the Law To start with, there are various issues involving the vice which must be put into consideration. From the legal perspectives, studying precedents is critical to review the law. In Joshua Robinson case, a martial art instructor who serves a four-year jail term for having consensual sex with underage girls, the judgment appears to the public as a lenient sentence. In addition to that, there are several cases in the past that the general public believes are similar to his and which the convicts serve harsher penalties than that of Joshua Robinson. On the contrary, the Office of the Attorney General responds to the public outcry by stating that the judgment is in line with the other court precedents similar to that case (Urbas, 2010). Therefore, for any review pertaining sex with a minor to occur, it is pivotal to factor in studies from judicial precedents that involve sex with children. In addition to that, public consultations and participation is another factor to consider in reviewing the laws that are in place concerning sex with minors. It is important that law serves the best interest of the people and not to stir or cause a public outcry. About Joshua Robinson case again, the public seems not to be satisfied on the judgment. Thus, consulting the public in reviewing the law on sex with minor is crucial for the same reason that the law serves the public interest (Frank, Camp, Boutcher, 2010). Thus, it is reasonable to factor in the public in making the same laws. Moreover, cases of sex with minor do not fall in the same category, that is, Singapore classifies them under different categories. Therefore, it is important that all these categories are put into consideration when reviewing the law. For instance, there are those under group rape, violence, abuse of power and those that cause severe harm to the abused among others (Ang, Huan, 2008). In reviewing the law, all the categories have to be put into consideration in regards to the passing of the judgment because they do not attract the same judgment or punishment. In Singapore, the existing law stipulates that sexual activities, like penetration to a person below the age of 16 years is an offense even if the person accepts or give consent to it. In addition to that, the law goes further to state that having sexual activities to minor below the age of 14 are rape irrespective of whether the minor gives consent or not (Radics, 2013). Furthermore, the law states that if a person is above 21 years old, he cannot use the standard defense phrase that he or she was not aware of the minors age. In recent times, there have been calls for improvement to the law from both the public and legislative members. Mr. Shanmugam, the minister of Justice in Singapore, believes that reviews to the law are essential, though not all the part, but only that part that appears unfit. However, he believes that it is not up to the government to choose which direction to take, but rather, that the matter is the responsibility of the office of the Attorney General to decide which way forward (Levenson, Brannon, Fortney, Baker, 2007). Also, he believes that the law needs to be stiffer, but may need to include public participation in its implementation. Conclusion Thus, considering whether the law on minor is stiffer or lenient, including public participation and looking into the classes that the vice falls before passing judgment are factors to consider before reviewing the law. In Singapore, there exist laws on sexual offense with minors. They vary depending on age, 16 being the turning age of consensual sex while below 14 being the age where sex is completely unacceptable. Lastly, with regards to sex with minors, reviewing the law and factors to look into before coming up with new laws is crucial. References Ang, R. P., Huan, V. S. (2008). Predictors of recidivism for adolescent offenders in a Singapore sample. Criminal justice and behavior, 35(7), 895-905. Beech, A. R., Elliott, I. A., Birgden, A., Findlater, D. (2008). The internet and child sexual offending: A criminological review.Aggression and violent behavior,13(3), 216-228. Frank, D. J., Camp, B. J., Boutcher, S. A. (2010). Worldwide trends in the criminal regulation of sex, 1945 to 2005. American Sociological Review, 75(6), 867-893. Levenson, J. S., Brannon, Y. N., Fortney, T., Baker, J. (2007). Public perceptions about sex offenders and community protection policies.Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy,7(1), 137-161. Radics, G. B. (2013). Decolonizing Singapore's Sex Laws: Tracing Section 377A of Singapore's Penal Code. Urbas, G. (2010). Protecting children from online predators: The use of covert investigation techniques by law enforcement.Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice,26(4), 410- 425..