当代刑法的两大基本理念及其意义

The Essence of Modern Criminal Law

刑法是公法,维护秩序是其第一要义,也正因为它是公法,因而又必须警惕和提防它对公民的不当侵害。秩序的刑法维护受罪责原则、法治国家原则、人道主义原则的制约。秩序的有效性取决于刑法的惩罚和预防功能的现实成效,它并不在于刑法的严厉性而在于其不可避免性和及时性;刑法具有残缺性,是第二次规范,它本质上是保障法,因而它不可能也不应当全面干预社会生活,只是其他法律不足以抗制且选择刑法具有效果时的最后法律手段,其使用受刑法谦抑思想的制约,“抓大放小”应当是刑事政策的必然选择。这些观念应当成为中国刑法现代化建设的基本理念。

Criminal law, a kind of public law, takes as its primary function keeping order. However, it should also guard against the inappropriate harm done to citizens. The maintenance of order under criminal law is governed by the principles of responsibility for an offence, rule of law, and hu-manitarianism. Criminal law has its own limitations. As a last resort, it guarantees the enforcement of other laws in essence. It should not interfere with social life in an all - round way. Therefore, criminalization and decriminalization should be the inevitable choice of the ciminal policy. All these should be the essence of the modernization of Chinas criminal law.