论我国刑法对老年人适用死刑的限制——对《刑法修正案(八)》第三条的解读

On Limitation to the Death Penalty for Old Ones in Criminal Law of Our Country — Interpretation of the 3rd Regulation of the Criminal Amendment(eight)

2012年2月25日通过了1997年刑法典实施以来的第八个刑法修正案。此次修正案创下了多个"第一",尤其是第三条对于老年人限制死刑适用的规定,意义尤为重大。它是宽严相济刑事政策"宽"的一面在此次修正案中的重要体现。通过正确理解第三条中的几个关键词,进而准确把握第三条的精神实质,最终实现对该条文的准确运用,真正实现对老年人少适用、甚至不适用死刑。

The eighth criminal law amendment has passed on February 25th this year. This criminal law amendment has made some ＂first time＂. Especially the significance of the 3rd regulation which sets the limitation of the death penalty to the old man is great. It is the manifestation of ＂leniency＂ of combination of leniency and harshness criminal policy. A precise understanding of the spirits of the third regulation through appropriate interpretation of its key words is a necessity to the accurate application of the regulation, thus realizing the aim of less or even no death pen- alty to be applied to the old.