Empathy and objectivity in the legal procedure: the case of Swedish prosecutors

The role of empathy, the capacity to read someone else’s emotions, in the legal context has previously been studied in relation to primarily judges’ decision-making, often with a concern for objectivity. Our purpose is to study professional emotion management in the legal process through an analysis of Swedish prosecutors’ use of empathy. An ethnographic data collection took place between 2012 and 2015, including shadowing, observations and interviews with 36 prosecutors from 3 prosecution offices. The analysis shows that during the investigation, empathy helps identify the prerequisites of a crime and deciding if and how to prosecute. When preparing for trial, empathy is used to anticipate the situation in court. During the trial, the empathic process includes management of the emotions of others in order to stage credible testimonies, convince the judge and calm victims. The empathic process is oriented and restricted by the emotive–cognitive judicial frame through which prosecutors are rewarded by emotions of comfort and pride in demonstrating expertise of legal coding. We conclude that empathy is integral to prosecutors’ professional performance, including the requirement to be objective. The study points to the problems with silencing emotions and maintaining a positivist notion of objectivity in the legal system.     

刑法语境中的“致人重伤、死亡”

我国现行刑法典多处使用了“致人重伤、死亡”的表述 ,看似简单 ,实则复杂。在规范性质上 ,具体表现为结果犯中的构成要件结果、结果加重犯中的加重结果和情节加重犯中的严重情节 ;在刑法价值上 ,既影响定罪 ,又影响量刑 ;在罪过形式上 ,又有单纯故意、单纯过失、故意与过失相混合三种类型。并且 ,刑法中的“致人死亡”不应包括引起被害人自杀的情形     

“被害人研究”在侦查实务界的实践与应用——对“三定侦查法”之“被害人研究”课题的探讨

刑事司法中,对被害人研究的关注早在我国宋代便有记载。被害人研究是三定侦查法理论体系的有机组成部分,从属于定性质范畴,并贯穿于整个三定侦查体系。被害人的研究意义体现在:一是可以推断案件的起因和背景,发现犯罪行为人与被害人之间的相互联系,解读犯罪行为人;二是可以推断犯罪行为人的犯罪动机和惯技行为,为案件串并提供帮助;三是可以更好地预测犯罪行为人下一个最可能的侵害目标,对侦查破案及安全防范均有益处。被害人研究应该重视被害调查研究,重视被害预防研究,重视人才培养。     

论故意杀人罪中被害人与犯罪人的互动关系

互动关系是故意杀人罪被害人与犯罪人之间最基本的关系。在杀人犯罪前、犯罪中和犯罪后这三个阶段,被害人与犯罪人相互影响、相互作用,共同促成、影响甚至推动了杀人犯罪的产生和发展。在杀人犯罪行为发生和发展过程中,被害人过错这一因素是客观存在的。     

Empathy deficits of sexual offenders: A conceptual model

Most treatment programmes for sexual offenders include some form of victim empathy training. Although the concept of empathy has acquired diverse meanings, those interested in sexual offenders' empathy deficits are primarily concerned about the offenders' lack of compassion or sympathy for their victims. A model of empathy is presented in which uncompassionate responses are the product of three initial conditions: a) an adversarial or indifferent relationship; b) perspective-taking deficits; and c) inappropriate methods for coping with the perceived distress of others. The model suggests that empathy training should target specific deficits, and that misdirected interventions would be expected to have no effects, or even detrimental effects, on the offenders' ability to generate sympathetic, compassionate responses to victims.