量刑程序改革的模式选择

确立适当的量刑程序模式,使得定罪程序与量刑程序的关系得到合理的协调,这是量刑程序改革的首要课题。最高法院新近确立的改革方案,尽管在“认罪审理程序”中具有可行性,但在简易程序和普通程序中却很难得到适用,甚至可能面临较大的理论争议和现实风险。通过基层法院的改革探索,一种建立在检察官批量出庭基础上的“集中量刑模式”,逐渐在简易程序中出现;对于被告人不认罪的案件,一种新的“独立量刑模式”在司法实践中逐渐浮出水面;那种适用于“认罪审理程序”中的“交错量刑模式”,也存在着进一步改进和完善的空间。对于这些自生自发的改革经验,改革者应正视其存在的合理性,评估其试验的效果,从而使其在促进新制度的形成方面发挥更大的作用。     

我国公诉制度改革若干问题探讨

我国的公诉制度有必要通过正在进行的刑事诉讼法再修改实行以下三项重要改革：1. 在起诉程序中适用非法证据排除规则。检察机关应当尽可能使进入审判程序的证据具有证据能力。2. 建立附条件不起诉制度。建立此项制度有其理念、政策和现实根据。立法应当合理规定附条件不起诉的案件范围、考察期限。实行附条件不起诉应当与当事人和解、犯罪嫌疑人社会调查制度相结合,并建立有效的监督机制。3. 创建量刑建议制度。以与规范法院量刑程序相配套,有助于实现量刑公正和有效辩护,提高诉讼效率和公诉能力及水平。     

走私普通货物、物品若干问题刍议

走私普通货物、物品罪是走私类罪中与人们日常生活关联性最大,也是最受人们关注的一种犯罪。走私普通货物、物品罪属于经济犯罪,其发案与我国当前的经济发展水平息息相关。我国加入世界贸易组织之后,贸易制度越加完善、透明,关税水平逐步下降,贸易壁垒有所消除,在这样的背景下,走私犯罪案件越来越少,其牟利空间越加稀薄,但查获犯罪风险却飞速上涨。因此,走私普通货物、物品罪的犯罪对象、定罪标准、量刑尺度等问题需要从立法上不断加以完善。     

雇佣犯罪的定罪与处罚研究——兼论主从犯分类理论的不合理性

现实中的雇佣犯罪在主观和客观方面都表现出多种复杂形式。司法实践中对雇佣犯罪定罪处罚大多局限于典型的雇佣犯罪,这在很多程度上影响了司法的准确性和量刑的适当性。雇佣犯罪所面临的一些难题,也反映了我国刑法中主从犯分类理论存在诸多不合理之处,并不适合作为共犯分类的理论,采用正犯与狭义共犯的分类理论比较合理。     

量刑根据和量刑基准

量刑根据是决定刑罚量最根本的依据,对量刑诸要素是否应当作刑法意义上的评价具有识别、过滤功能。责任基础上的预防是量刑的正当化依据。一般而言,量刑基准是法官自由裁量的起点;具体而言,量刑基准是在排除任何法定的或者酌定的量刑情节后,对已经确定适用一定幅度法定刑的抽象个罪所应当判处的刑罚量。量刑根据是量刑的本体论问题,量刑基准是量刑的方法论问题。前者对后者的确定方法具有决定作用。     

量刑基准确定方法研究

就量刑基准确定方法的求证路径而言,应提倡逻辑推演与实证分析相结合的思维方式。基于"主要因素论"的立场,量刑基准的确定方法总体上应以法益被侵害的程度作为主要因素,并根据相应法律后果即法定刑的设定加以判断。具体应结合犯罪类型,尤其是既遂犯的不同模式,确定各种犯罪的主要因素,并最终形成量刑的初始点。     

危险驾驶罪实现量刑均衡的思考——基于299个案例的实证考察

从湖北法院2011年5月1日至2012年4月30日审结的299起危险驾驶案件来看,危险驾驶罪存在量刑失衡的问题。应从统一入罪门槛标准、体现各种量刑情节、明确缓刑适用标准、规范罚金数额标准以及平等适用免处标准等方面,来实现危险驾驶罪量刑均衡。     

论未成年犯刑罚裁量机制

A市B法院两个年度审结的未成年人刑事案件一定程度上反映了未成年犯刑罚裁量中的实践问题,主要是未充分贯彻未成年人刑事司法政策,从宽不足以及量刑失衡等问题。究其主要原因是实体上从严行使的定刑权及规范缺失,以及程序上量刑自由裁量权行使的制度性障碍。为此,有必要完善未成年犯刑罚裁量机制,既要完善刑事实体规范,确立未成年犯量刑之法律依据,也要注重完善未成年犯量刑程序性保障机制,确保量刑公正。     

加大扶贫力度 促进社会和谐

两千多万农村贫困人口的客观存在和扶贫工作中出现的新问题,是当前一个突出的不和谐因素。因此,我们要进一步加大扶贫力度,为构建和谐社会打下坚实的基础。     

Chapter 6. Psychosocial Stressors,Psychiatric Diagnoses and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Undocumented Immigrant Latinos

Abstract

The combined effects of minority status, specific ethnic group experiences (political, economic, trauma and immigration history), poverty, and illegal status pose a set of unique psychiatric risks for undocumented Latinos in the United States. Restrictive legislation and policy measures have limited access to health care, and other basic human services to undocumented immigrants and their children throughout the nation. However, little is known about the patterns of mental health care use, psychiatric diagnoses and psychosocial problems prevalent among the undocumented who do succeed in presenting to clinical settings and to the mental health sector. To begin to address the need for further understanding in this area, we completed a clinical chart review of 197 outpatient adult psychiatric charts in a Latino mental health outpatient treatment program located in an urban hospital system.

We compared the diagnoses and mental health care use of undocumented Latino immigrants (15%) with that of documented (73%) and US born Latinos (12%) treated in this clinical setting. The undocumented Latinos in our study were more likely to have a diagnosis of anxiety, adjustment and alcohol abuse disorders. The undocumented also had a significantly greater mean number of concurrent psychosocial stressors (mean number = 5, p < .001) ascompared to documented immigrants and US born groups, which both had a mean number of 3 stressors identified at evaluation. The undocumented were more likely to have psychosocial problems related to occupation, access to healthcare and the legal system. However, the undocumented had a lower mean number of total mental health appointments attended (mean visits = 4.3, p < .001) in which to address these stressors as compared to documented immigrants (mean visits = 7.9) and US born (mean visits = 13.3). In terms of other previous mental health service use, the undocumented group had lower rates of lifetime inpatient and outpatient treatment use.

The results of this study suggest the importance of early assessment of psychosocial stressors, substance use and barriers to care when treating undocumented immigrants. Although all Latino groups included in this investigation demonstrated numerable concurrent stressors, our investigation highlights the particular importance of accessible social services and supports for addressing psychosocial stressors in the lives of undocumented patients. Our results stress the importance of reexamining policies, that restrict access to social services and healthcare for the undocumented. Our results also suggest the importance of culturally appropriate evaluation and treatment of substance abuse disorders as well as addressing other psychological and behavioral responses to multiple stressors among undocumented individuals.