个别下调法定最低刑事责任年龄条款的适用路径

Path of Application of the Provision on Individual Downward Adjustment of the Legal Minimum Age of Criminal

表达主义强调刑事立法明确特定保护法益的重要性从而具有引导个人行为选择和刑事司法实务导向的回应性功能,这解释了《刑法》第17条第3款立法过程的科学性,并反映了对实施了严重暴力涉罪行为低龄未成年人的特殊预防必要性。不过,由于专门学校和专门教育处于更新发展的初始阶段,《刑法》第17条第3款应采取功能性扩张适用路径。该路径以特殊预防必要性的规范目的为指引,在概括性实体条件要素解释和核准追诉标准把握等方面依法采取严厉的刑事政策导向。关于该路径的具体把握,应坚持“最严重的罪行”“最严格的证明标准”和“最谨慎的核准追诉程序”的总体要求,并遵循四步骤逐项检验的操作规程。

Expressionism,which emphasises the responsive function of criminal law in clarifying the importance of a particular legal interest to be protected,thereby guiding individual behavioral choices and criminal practice orientation,explains the scientific nature of the legislative process of article 17,paragraph 3 of the Criminal Law.Expressionism also reflects the necessity for individual deterrence for teenagers who have committed violent crimes.The fact that specialised schools and specialised education are in the initial stages of newly development decides that this paragraph should be applied in a functionally expansive approach.The approach means that with the normative purpose of the necessity for individual deterrence as a guide,a rigorous criminal policy orientation should be adopted in terms of the interpretation of the elements of the generalised substantive conditions and the discretion of the procedural criteria for the approval of prosecution.With regard to the specific adoption of the approach,it is recommended to adhere to the general requirements of‘the most serious crimes’,‘the most stringent standard of proof’and‘the most prudent approval of prosecution procedure’,and to follow a four-step approach.