中国古代刑法中的“罪刑法定”论

在中国古代刑法中,很早就有了"罪刑法定"的思想.这一思想从春秋时期被提出,经战国、秦汉的发展,遭"春秋决狱"的磨难,到晋代的再次被提出和隋唐的进一步发展及以后各代的相继沿用,前后经历了漫长的历程.但是,由于中国封建专制皇权的存在,"罪刑法定"思想始终没能上升为古代刑法的基本原则.尽管如此,"罪刑法定"思想在同罪刑擅断相斗争,维护封建统治的过程中,一直发挥着重要的作用.     

监狱企业网络营销的机遇与挑战

在传统经济体制下,监狱企业的产业定位是非市场性的,其内部管理多为重生产、轻营销的封闭式结构,其多年不变的产品和以我为主的销售模式,已无法适应市场经济的要求.面对正在全球范围内蓬勃兴起的网络营销,监狱企业必须抓住机遇并积极应对.     

论"宽严相济"在监狱行刑中的运用

监狱作为我国政法机关的重要组成部分,对于认真贯彻国家宽严相济的刑事政策负有不可推卸的重大责任.深刻揭示行刑的精神实质,是监狱科学贯彻宽严相济刑事政策的重要前提;监狱立足行刑的报应职能,是彰显刑事政策的客观要求.监狱在具体行刑中,惟有科学、正确、灵活的运用"宽严相济"的刑事政策.才能有效促进我国和谐社会的构建.     

论回归社会为导向的教育矫正刑

罪犯来源于社会,回归社会。监狱矫正罪犯,从基本理念的确立到具体路径的选择,都要充分考虑到这一基本要求。回归的价值导向,决定了监狱矫正罪犯的内容和路径不能仅仅满足监狱自身的需要,而是应立足于罪犯回归的需要。对罪犯的矫正与改造,其本质的涵义就是通过教育,转变罪犯的心理结构,能够使罪犯学会基本的生存技能、文化知识、道德法律规范和社会交往能力。以教育为核心,就是需要在罪犯矫正的全过程贯彻教育人、矫正人的宗旨,能够发挥教育的主导性作用。     

委托执行的实践反思与完善

委托执行制度本身存在一些不合理之处,受托案件负担论是影响委托执行效果的主要因素,管理、监督制度虚无化是委托执行制度动态运行上的最大问题。委托执行制度改革的内容核心是实行共同执行,运行核心是纳入执行流程,管理核心是强化高级法院责任。     

“首要标准”下监狱企业转型发展的实践与思考

监狱企业的发展必须服务于"首要标准",以实现其价值功能为最终目标,这是最大的现实。应分析监狱企业发展,在职能上实现其经济型向改造型转变,在结构上实现复合型向单一型转变,在管理模式上实现监管劳动型向社会劳动型转变。监狱企业服务于"首要标准"的现实途径是:重视"首要标准"下监狱企业立法,以适合罪犯劳动改造为基点调整产业结构,健全劳动改造管理机制,建立劳动竞争和报酬机制,规范劳动现场管理,强化罪犯劳动的教育功能。     

A Legacy of Harm: Punitive Drug Policies and Women’s Carceral Experiences in Canada

There is limited research on the gendered impacts of drug policies in Canada, despite the fact that women, Indigenous women in particular, are the country’s fastest growing prisoner population, with many incarcerated for drug-related crimes. This article highlights the results of a larger qualitative study with former prisoners in Ontario and community and medical experts from across the country. Focusing on the women research participants, we consider the lack of adequate and culturally-relevant substance use and harm reduction programming in federal prisons, and suggest a reformulation of Canada’s punitive drug policies toward a health and social welfare approach.     

The mental health and substance misuse needs of male ex-armed forces personnel in prison

Ex-armed forces personnel constitute the largest known occupational group in prison but there is little evidence regarding their mental health, or substance misuse, needs. A total of 105 participants were interviewed and measures assessing symptoms of common mental health (CMH) problems and substance misuse were completed along with a review of their health care records. Forty (38%) participants screened for current CMH problems (CCMH) and high levels of dual symptomology and alcohol misuse were assessed. Thirty-nine (37%) had a mental health diagnosis recorded, most commonly for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and personality disorder. Those who screened for a CCMH problem were more likely to have pre-service vulnerability to negative health outcomes and those with dual symptomology were more likely to have experienced deployment during their service. Findings suggest the mental health needs of this group are similar to the general prison population. Potentially higher prevalences of PTSD and alcohol misuse may direct service provision.     

Solitary Confinement as Punishment: Examining In-Prison Sanctioning Disparities

Drawing on prior sentencing and prison scholarship, this study examines the use of solitary confinement as a form of punishment. Specifically, it assesses whether, given a prison infraction, minority inmates—and young, male, minority inmates in particular—are more likely to be placed in solitary and to be placed in it for longer durations. Multilevel regression analyses of state prison data suggest little support for the hypothesis that minority males, or young minority, males, are sanctioned more harshly than other inmates. The analyses identify, however, that males are more likely than females to be placed in solitary as a form of disciplinary punishment and that younger females are more likely to be placed in it than older females. The findings highlight that age and sex may interact to influence punishment decisions and raise questions about the precise roles of race and ethnicity in affecting punishment decisions. Implications of the findings for theory, research, and policy are discussed.     

Opting Out: The Role of Identity,Capital, and Agency in Prison Visitation

An emerging body of research suggests that prison visitation has implications for better understanding inmate institutional and post-release behavior, but not all inmates receive visits. The goal of the current study is to document barriers to visitation from the inmate perspective and describe the perspectives of those who receive very few or no visits. We also describe how inmate perceptions of visits impacts the way one does time and negotiates subsequent visitation. Using data from qualitative interviews, we find evidence that inmates make willful decisions when negotiating prison visits that are guided by one’s sense of self and further colored by the perceived social and economic strain on families. Our results challenge the perception of a universally positive visitation experience, and introduce the role of inmate choice in selecting into and out of prison visits.