降低最低刑事责任年龄是否合理?对中国近期修正案的批判性评述

Q2 Social Sciences Howard Journal of Crime and Justice Pub Date : 2023-09-25 DOI:10.1111/hojo.12543
Aaron H. L. Wong
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引用次数: 0

摘要

2021 年,中国修订了刑事责任最低年龄法(MACR),将两种特定罪行的刑事责任最低年龄降至 12 岁。因此,中国现在对不同的罪行规定了三种不同级别的最低刑事责任年龄。基于中国的情况,本文认为,尽管逆国际趋势降低最低刑事责任年龄作为应对儿童所犯严重罪行的必要措施是合理的,但根据犯罪类型设立不同级别的最低刑事责任年龄原则上是错误的。本文进一步探讨了设定绝对最低刑事责任年龄的典型两难问题,其结果是要么释放有罪者,要么将无辜者定罪。文章认为,设定一个相对较低的最低刑事责任年龄,并辅以有力的无行为能力辩护、儿童不成熟辩护、转送教改机构和更广泛的量刑选择等保障措施,可以更好地评估儿童的罪责,更有利于司法公正。还有人建议,如果少年司法系统能够确保只有那些真正有罪的人才能被定罪,并将起诉作为最后的选择,那么降低最低刑事责任年龄就不会毫无道理地损害儿童的权利。
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Can lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility be justified? A critical review of China's recent amendment

In 2021, China amended its law on the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR), lowering the MACR of two specified offences to twelve years. As a result, China now has three different levels of MACR for different offences. Based on the position in China, this article argues that while lowering the MACR against the international trend can be justified as a necessary measure to tackle serious crimes committed by children, creating different levels of MACR based on the types of crime is wrong in principle. This article further considers the classic dilemma in setting an absolute MACR, which results in either freeing the guilty or convicting the innocent. It is argued that setting a relatively low MACR accompanied by robust safeguards of doli incapax, child immaturity defence, diversion and wider sentencing options would allow a better assessment of children's culpability and better serve the interests of justice. It is also suggested that lowering the MACR will not unjustifiably undermine children's rights if the juvenile justice system could ensure only those truly culpable could be convicted and that the option of prosecution is reserved as a last resort.

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来源期刊
CiteScore
2.30
自引率
0.00%
发文量
41
期刊介绍: The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice is an international peer-reviewed journal committed to publishing high quality theory, research and debate on all aspects of the relationship between crime and justice across the globe. It is a leading forum for conversation between academic theory and research and the cultures, policies and practices of the range of institutions concerned with harm, security and justice.
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