Punishment and Justice in Adam Smith*

Abstract. The modern interpretation of Smith as a retributive theorist of punishment is challenged in favour of a view of his work as containing a curious amalgam of retributive and utilitarian elements. This unsynthesised theoretical compound accounts for many of the contradictory positions assumed by him, examples of which are given in the article. At the level of “punishment” (i.e., punishment considered without a political dimension), the retributivehtilitarian dichotomy is observed in his discussions of merit and demerit (which are utilitarian in their logic) and propriety and impropriety (which are retributive). At the level of state punishment, the same dichotomy is seen in his juxtaposition of considerations of individual justice and the political ends of punishment. A final section locates Smith's “double cleft stick” theoretically in his position on the one hand in the Hobbesian materialist tradition and on the other in his historical stance half-way between the individualism of the contractarians and the full blown utilitarianism of Bentham.     

Edmund Burke and Adam Smith: Pioneers in the field of law & economics

Robert W. McGee is a professor in the W. Paul Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. He has authored or edited more than 30 books and monographs and has published more than 200 articles for a variety of journals in accounting, taxation, law, economics and philosophy.     

论人格障碍与犯罪--马加爵案件心理分析

马加爵故意杀人案件发生后,在全国上下引起极大的轰动和关注.这个案件所反映出来的犯罪手段的残忍、犯罪起因的琐碎以及犯罪后果的严重,使人们在唏嘘不已的同时,不禁思索:正当青春年华的马加爵为什么会以如此残忍的手段去杀害同样正处青春年华的他的同学?是一时冲动?是变态犯罪?他们之间究竟发生了什么?我们对青少年的教育和关心到底出了什么问题?如何去避免类似的悲剧重演?对这些问题的正确回答关系到整个社会的安宁和发展,关系到青少年的健康成长,关系到我们国家的未来.本文试从犯罪心理学的角度对这一案件进行心理分析,就上述几个问题谈一些自己粗浅的看法,以抛砖引玉,并期待有更多的人来研究这些问题,为防止类似犯罪案件的发生提供理论基础.     

论作为人权与公民权的自由权

自中世纪以来 ,自由就是人类所追求的一种价值目标和生存状态。本文从人权和公民权的角度来论述自由权。在具体论述时从自由的含义出发 ,阐述自由和自由人权 ,进而揭示自由的法律意义 ,即法律上的自由权。在此基础之上 ,本文最后简要论述了自由与平等、秩序等价值目标的矛盾和平衡。     

有组织犯罪的概念及特征探究

有组织犯罪的产生最早可以溯源到1282年意大利西西里岛首府巴勒莫市产生的家族式的犯罪集团,意大利被称作"Mafia"(中文称其为"玛啡亚"),即黑手党之意,自此有组织犯罪渐渐在世界范围内获得发展,并渐成蔓延之势.     

A general theory of crime and computer crime: An empirical test

Computer crime has become a global issue and continues to rapidly grow; however, few studies had examined the applicability of a general theory of crime in explaining computer deviance. Using a panel of 2,751 Korean youths, the current study examined whether low self-control theory can be useful as a theoretical framework for explaining computer crime. The results indicated the applicability of low self-control theory in explaining both illegal download of software and illegal use of others’ personal identification online. Consistent with the theory's prediction, opportunity variables, especially hours of computer use, were found to be significant predictors of computer crime. The shortcomings of the current research and the directions for future research were discussed.     

刑事推定与犯罪认定刍议

在刑事诉讼中,认定犯罪事实的方法不外乎两种:一是以全然确定的证据来直接证明案件事实,二是通过推定来认定犯罪.其中,前者是认定犯罪事实的主要方法,长期以来人们注重对其研究和运用.然而,对于后者,理论上的探讨还不是很多.不可否认,刑事推定运用得合理,对于拓展认定犯罪的方法,及时打击犯罪,防止犯罪分子逃脱刑事追究有着重大的意义.     

Science, politics, and crime prevention: Toward a new crime policy

Objective

Crime prevention has entered a new, more robust phase of research activity and holds greater relevance to policy and practice today than ever before. It stands as an important component of an overall strategy to reduce crime. This paper sets out a modest proposal for a new crime policy to help build a safer, more sustainable society.

Materials and methods

Narrative meta-review of the crime prevention literature.

Results

The central features include: ensuring that the highest quality scientific research is at center stage in the policy-making process; overcoming the “short-termism” politics of the day; and striking a greater balance between crime prevention and crime control. Both simulation studies and experiences in Washington State show that early prevention can reduce crime, save money, and reduce the need for costly incarceration.

Conclusions

Quality criminological research should be used to strike a policy balance between crime prevention and crime control.     

论不作为犯之作为义务程度及其功能

作为不作为犯罪成立前提之作为义务，不仅存在有无之分，还存在程度之别：从道德义务上升为法律义务是一个量变引起质变的过程，这种质和量的辨证关系充分说明法律义务存在程度的差异；法律义务是刑事责任的前提和基础，责任有轻重之分，义务自然有程度之别；司法实践中行为人有无作为义务难以判断，也说明作为义务存在程度的差别。作为义务程度概念的确立，为刑法学界对不作为犯的研究开辟了新的领域，将促进对不作为犯的深入研究：可以为确定不作为犯罪的范围提供理论指导；可以为确定不作为犯的刑事责任轻重提供依据；还可以为科学判断作为义务的有无提供新的思路。