美国模范刑法典导论

美国法学会1962年通过的《模范刑法典》在美国刑法法典化的历史中发挥了最重要的作用。自颁布至今,该法典一直是美国刑法典改革的主导力量,也是美国刑法学研究的催化剂。该法典内容上包括总则、具体犯罪的规定、处遇和矫正、矫正组织四编,总体上采用了“原则性实用主义”的进路。该法典的创新之处体现在:全面的总则、分析性的结构、充分界定犯罪、使用限定的术语、法典条款的解释体系、犯罪体系,以及某些具体规则的创新,如犯罪要件、不完整犯罪和同谋犯、正当事由、免责事由等。

A Introduction to Model Penal Code

Model Penal Code, edited by American Law Institute in 1962 has been playing a leading role in codification of American criminal law. Since it published, it has been the dominant force in American criminal code reform and a catalyst for American criminal law scholarship. It's comprised of four Parts: General Provisions, Definition of Specific Crimes, Treatment and Correction and Organization of Correction. It adopted an approach characterized as "principled pragmatism". The innovations of the Model Penal Code can be summarized as follows: a comprehensive general part, an analytic structure, defining offenses fully, using defined terms, a system for the interpretation of code provisions, a system of offenses and innovations in specific criminal law doctrines, such as offense elements, inchoate and accomplice liability, justification defenses, excuse defenses, etc.