From Power to Rights: Interpreting Inscribing “To Respect and Protect Human Rights” in the Amended Criminal Procedure Law

Human rights are one of the widely acknowledged value systems in the international ,community. The core of human rights lies in the life and dignity of human beings. On the one hand, criminal procedure law is related to life and freedom, which is the concern of everybody. On the other hand, it involves direct dialogue between national power and citizens＇ fights.

Human Rights Safeguards in Criminal Procedure——An interview with Prof.Fan Chongyi

The issue relating to human rights safeguards in criminal procedure has of late attracted extensive attention. A Human Rights reporter recently interviewed Prof. Fan Chongyi of China University of Political Science and Law on the issue. Following are excerpts of the interview.

Legal Frame for Criminal Proceedings Against Juveniles in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The paper analyzes applicability of legal frame of international standards on the protection of juvenile rights which are expressed through the concept of protection of ＂the best interests of a child and juvenile＂, in view of the question whether the Federation of Bill performs appropriate activities and to which extent, and are there controversy points that need to be resolved separately. It points out the unknowns which the practices of the courts in the Federation of Bill have not yet completely resolved, and are related to the applicability of the new rules adopted by the Law on Protection and Treatment of Children and Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings of the Federation of Bill. Also, it presents a set of legal rules that regulate criminal proceedings against juveniles within the Federation of Bill, with a special emphasis on the basic characteristics of this process. Finally, possible solutions to the mentioned ambiguities and dilemmas are proposed in accordance with the principle of legal certainty as essential to addressees of the relevant legal norms

Study on the Escape of the Portuguese Leasing in Macao from Chinese Criminal Law and the Governance by the Government of the Qing Dynasty

After the Portuguese leased in Macao in the mid-period of Ming Dynasty, the Portuguese officials here were asked to comply with the law of China more than once. To the Qing dynasty, the Portuguese still stubbornly refused to obey the law of China and often escaped from Chinese criminal law using briberies. In the case about Huiqian CHEN and the processing in the end of 1743, the fact that the Portuguese often escaped from the law of China was changed, and the principle of the Chinese judicial officials about processing the murders about Chinese killed by foreigners was explicitly defined. In this principle, Chinese significant compromises and concessions to the Portuguese were also included, but the criminal jurisdiction was ultimately controlled by the Government of the Qing Dynasty. Thus, the foreign-related criminal procedures conforming to foreign conditions were revised by the government of the Qing Dynasty according to the actual circumstances of Macao. However, the foreign-related criminal procedures revised by the government of the Qing Dynasty were not honestly observed by the Portuguese. After several major cases occurred in Macao, security rules and regulations were further issued by the government of the Qing Dynasty, in which the judicial control power of the government of the Qing Dynasty in Macao was unequivocally stated.

China's Criminal Law Reform from the Perspective of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights reflects the world’s perception of human rights, and is of vital importance in the field of international human rights. The Covenant has been signed by Chinese government. Although not ratified yet, it will definitely have an impact on the reform of China’s Criminal Law. Therefore, it is necessary to further change our notion of the criminal law system by defining the boundary between public power and civil rights and developing the view of human rights protection. In terms of the specific system, it is necessary to further reduce the number of crimes punishable by the death penalty and limit the application of the death sentence, improve China’s Criminal Procedural Law to protect the fundamental rights of suspects and defendants in terms of compulsory measures, investigation means and judicial form, and add some charges like enslavement and illegal human experimentation, which are criminalized around the world, so as to be in line with the requirements of international human rights protection.

A Brief Review of the Second Revision of China's Criminal Procedure Law

Since the enactment of China＇s Criminal Procedure Law in 1979, China＇s criminal procedure system has undergone a process of refinement and elaboration. A relatively complete framework for the criminal procedure system has been constructed that fits in well with contemporary international thinking on criminal procedure. The Decision on Amending the Criminal Procedure Law of the People＇s Republic of China passed by the National People＇s Congress on March 14, 2012 highlights China＇s strenuous efforts in protecting human rights and promoting the modernization of the legal system. It also demonstrates the consolidation and absorption of the achievements of China＇s continuing reforms. A review of the main content of the Amendment to Criminal Procedure Law is highly significant for the further improvement of the system.

Revival and Development of the Criminal Reconciliation System in China

With the adoption of the governance policy of a harmonious society and with the further strengthening of the criminal policy of mitigating severity with leniency, China＇s criminal reconciliation system is undergoing rapid development. In the 2012 Criminal Procedure Law of the People＇s Republic of China, criminal reconciliation is stipulated in a separate chapter under ＂Special Procedures,＂ thereby comprehensively establishing for the first time a criminal reconciliation system with Chinese characteristics in the Criminal Procedure Law. However, China＇s legislation on criminal reconciliation remains relatively broad-brush and controversial. Improved regulation and system construction now point the way for future development.

Judicial Amendment and Lack of Thoroughness:Analysis of Provisions on Evidence in the Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law

China＇s Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law of 2012 revises the provisions on rules of evidence. There are a number of positive changes compared to the original text, but some shortcomings still exist. For instance, although the legislation recognizes the right against compulsory self-incrimination, it does not acknowledge the right to silence and retains the obligation of the accused to confess; the amended provisions are more tolerant of the use of illegal tactics like ＂threats,＂ ＂enticement＂ and ＂deceit＂ to obtain confessions; the legislative approach does not resolutely deter unlawful search and seizure in the collection of evidence; and although there are provisions for protection of persona/safety, financial compensation and judicial sanctions to ensure that witnesses appear before court to testify, there are no provisions on the most important rule in the evidence system, the hearsay rule.

Report on a Research Experiment on the Independent Sentencing Procedure:A Sample from the Wuhu Model

The standardization of sentencing is an important issue in the Chinese reform of criminal justice and sentencing procedure. This study draws on the material obtained from a sentencing procedure pilot project and employs typical experimental methodology to test the effect of implementing the independent sentencing procedure through overall and paired comparisons. The results show that independent sentencing is viable in that it can significantly improve the transparency of the sentencing process and increase the quantity and amount of sentencing information obtained and employed by judges. Although the degree of satisfaction of participants in the procedure is not as high as expected, the resultsin trials of the first instance appear to have greater legitimacy and justifiability. At the same time, the independent sentencing procedure also helps give substance to the function of the collegiate bench, and can thus be taken as an important entry point for deepening court reform. However, the findings of our study show that there was room for improvement in the role of lawyers in this experiment.

The Chinese Model of the Legal Regulation of Technical Investigation

Technical investigation is a special means of investigation among criminal procedures. It has the highest risk parameter. Its legislative model as well as its operation in practice is closely related to the development of science and technology, the public security situation, the state of criminal offences, human rights protection, and related issues. If technical investigation is to strike a balance between crime control and human rights protection in the course of realizing the objectives of criminal procedure, we need to regulate its applicable principles, decision-making mechanisms, implementation mechanisms and remedies in accordance with law.

THE FORENSIC CHALLENGE

This article investigates what might be characterised as ＂the forensic challenge＂ for criminal adjudication and clarifies its nature and scope. The ＂challenge＂ identified is complex, dynamic and multifaceted, encompassing a variety of issues and debates concerning the ways in which forensic science evidence is validated, generated, presented, tested, evaluated and utilised in criminal proceedings. Common law evidentiary principles governing the admissibility of scientific evidence and expert witness testimony are reviewed and the underlying assumptions and potential weaknesses of adversarial trial procedure are critically considered. The discussion is pitched at the generic level of recurring intellectual puzzles, institutional design, regulatory frameworks, procedural structures and processes, macro-policy choices and methodological prescriptions, with the intention of making it relevant to an international audience. Aspects of the procedural law and adjudicative practice of England and Wales, and the regulatory context of UK forensic science, are offered as concrete illustrations with the potential for illuminating comparative extrapolation to other legal systems. In conclusion, the article draws out specific implications for Chinese scholarship, law reform and policymaking in relation to scientific and other expert evidence, and advances a bold suggestion for entertaining an unconventionally expansive conception of ＂forensic science＂ and, correspondingly, of the challenges it presents.