Corrective Work Order
Encyclopedia
Corrective Work Order, commonly known as CWO, is one of the two penalties
(the other is a fine) in Singapore to be meted out to 'litterbugs' (those who are caught littering in the public street). The order forces the 'litterbugs' to clean up a specified location as ordered by the government, while wearing a bright green luminous vest bearing the words "Corrective Work Order". The punishment aims to force the offender to rehabilitate and shame them in public to deter others from committing the similar offence.
and published on the front cover. These people usually end up as a "national joke" and have sometimes been shunned
. Litterbugs serving Corrective Work Order usually have their faces covered with a mask or plastic bag (which is legal) to avoid being identified by members of the public. In the recent years, it was extended to first time offenders who littered "large objects."
However, media interest long since tailed off, and there is some evidence that the sentence is no longer working as a deterrent to littering by the general public.
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
(the other is a fine) in Singapore to be meted out to 'litterbugs' (those who are caught littering in the public street). The order forces the 'litterbugs' to clean up a specified location as ordered by the government, while wearing a bright green luminous vest bearing the words "Corrective Work Order". The punishment aims to force the offender to rehabilitate and shame them in public to deter others from committing the similar offence.
Results
Corrective Work Order was intended for repeat offenders only. Introduced in 1992, it proved to be very successful. Littering offenses have significantly dropped, and there were very few repeat offenders. Occasionally, a few who served Corrective Work Order had their faces photographed by The Straits TimesThe Straits Times
The Straits Times is an English language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings . It is the country's highest-selling paper, with a current daily circulation of nearly 400,000...
and published on the front cover. These people usually end up as a "national joke" and have sometimes been shunned
Shunning
Shunning can be the act of social rejection, or mental rejection. Social rejection is when a person or group deliberately avoids association with, and habitually keeps away from an individual or group. This can be a formal decision by a group, or a less formal group action which will spread to all...
. Litterbugs serving Corrective Work Order usually have their faces covered with a mask or plastic bag (which is legal) to avoid being identified by members of the public. In the recent years, it was extended to first time offenders who littered "large objects."
However, media interest long since tailed off, and there is some evidence that the sentence is no longer working as a deterrent to littering by the general public.