“矜老恤幼”:刑法宽容须有度——兼评《刑法》修正案(八)

"Showing Sympathy to the Old and the Young":Moderate Mercy of Criminal Law——Also on the Amendment 8 of Criminal Law

我国古代"矜老恤幼"刑法制度具有严刑本质,同时也蕴涵着人道价值,但并非现代刑法中的人道主义。人道能够作为刑事法治的重要价值理念,但不是刑罚本身的价值要素,对"矜老恤幼"刑法制度应正确看待其人道价值功能。"矜老恤幼"的刑法宽容思想与宽严相济刑事政策精神相契合,通过《刑法》修正案(八)对"矜老恤幼"制度进行完善,应当贯彻宽严相济刑事政策,做到宽容有度、以宽济严,以实现刑法的人道主义价值理念。

＂Showing sympathy to the old and the young＂ in Chinese ancient criminal law system both had the nature of torture and contained the value of humanity. But this is not humanitarianism in modem criminal law. Humanity can be important value ideas of criminal law but not value component of penalty itself. We should regard the function of humanitarian value of ＂showing sympathy to the old and the young＂ correctly. The mercy thinking in ＂showing sympathy to the old and the young＂ was in accordance with the criminal policy tempering justice with mercy. The system of ＂showing sympathy to the old and the young＂ was improved in Amendment 8 of Criminal Law. Humanitarian values could be achieved by implementing criminal policy tempering justice with mercy and appropriate tolerance.