试论刑罚的社会责任

刑罚是犯罪的后果。但同时又是社会运行和社会存在的一部分。如果刑罚没有得到社会公众的认可，没有得到罪犯的诚服，那么刑罚的社会责任就无从谈起。刑罚的功效也会大打折扣。罪犯实质意义上的重返社会也是不可能的，更有甚者。有的终其一生把犯罪作为自己的职业，疯狂地报复社会。刑罚构制的原则思想应当是在打击犯罪和尊重人权的基础上，贯穿功利性与人道性的理性思维下，科学预测，合理配置，兼顾社会性和法律性，做到发挥出刑罚功效的最大化。在社会转型期尤为重要。

On Social Responsibility of Penalty

The penalty is the result of a crime and also a part of social operation and existence. If the penalty is not accepted by public and convinced by the offender, the social responsibility is impossible. The effects of penalty will be greatly reduced. The offender returning to the society is also impossible. What＇s more, some of them will treat crime as their occupation, crazy revenge on society. The penalty principle system should be based on the fight against crime and the respect for human rights, break through the utility and humanity rational thinking, make scientific prediction and reasonable configuration, give consideration to society and legality and play a maximum penalty function. That will be particularly important in the period of social transition.