Applying Moral Foundations Theory to the Explanation of Capital Jurors’ Sentencing Decisions

Abstract

This study applies moral foundations theory to capital juror decision making. We hypothesized that binding moral foundations would predict death qualification and punitive sentencing decisions, whereas individualizing moral foundations would be associated with juror disqualification and a leniency effect. Additionally, we considered whether moral foundations can explain differences in death penalty application between conservatives and liberals. Respondents from two independent samples participated in a mock-juror task in which the circumstances of a hypothetical defendant’s case varied. Results revealed moral foundations were strong predictors of death qualification. The binding and individualizing foundations were related to sentencing decisions in the expected ways. Supporting our contention that moral foundations operate differently across different types of cases, heterogeneity in the effects of moral foundations was observed. Finally, we found support for the hypothesis that the relationship between sentencing decisions and conservatism would be attenuated by moral foundations.     

论治安行政听证制度的基本原则

行政听证制度是我国立法引进的一项新制度,是行政程序法的核心内容。公安机关在进行治安行政听证工作中,应当认真借鉴国外相关的立法,健全和完善公开原则、言词原则、职能分离原则、事先告知原则、记录排他性原则。     

理性呼唤与死刑适用

思考世界死刑命运,反观我国关于死刑的司法实践和传统理念,严格死刑的适用标准成为必要。同时,展望未来,为了适应国际人权法的要求和实现我国所承担的国际义务,应当从立法上限制死刑的适用。     

Capital punishment, criminals and enemies

Right of life and life are different concept. The former is endowed w by state beforehand, which is proved through his behavior that he is deserved to own the right of life. The one who thoroughly offend the basic norm in the law is the enemy of our realistic world. If only the enemy still have danger to threaten the society, he should be executed to death penalty, and deprived of his life, but will not happen the problem of miscarriage of justice and inhumanity. The criminal’s behavior just only denies part of norm in the law, however, who still is mankind and should possess of mankind’s dignity, so we must abolish death penalty on them, miscarriage of justice is another reason of course. __________ Translated from Peking University Law Journal, 2005(5) (in Chinese) by Mi Zhibin     

确实加强对支票违规行为的行政处罚

对支票违规行为实施监督、管理、处罚是人民银行的一项重要管理职责。但是实践中存在掌握违法信息难,取证难,罚款收缴难等问题。应通过建立开发空头支票监测系统,设立处罚种类,加强与司法部门合作等途径来加强管理。     

谈行政处罚适用中的“一事不再罚”原则

“一事不再罚”原则是反映自然公正、法治、秩序等价值理念。但在理论与实践中,执法人员还需进一步深入研究,使其真正完备起来,为行政执法、行政处罚实践提供更全面的理论指导与更强的依据性、可操作性。     

论贿赂外国公职人员或国际公共组织官员罪

贿赂外国公职人员或国际公共组织官员罪是《联合国反腐败公约》规定的一类新型犯罪。对这一犯罪,可以从贿赂对象、贿赂范围、贿赂对价、贿赂方式和贿赂领域五个方面加以理解。我国刑法在规定这一犯罪时,应注意刑法与《公约》的协调,立法上注意与我国刑法中“国家工作人员”概念之转换,司法上注意与国外贿赂犯罪的规定相协调;刑事管辖权上应当以属地管辖原则为主,辅之以属人管辖;法定刑的设置应以有期徒刑为处罚方式,并可以适用罚金刑。     

刑法目的新论

刑法立法目的就是国家制定刑法所要达到的目的,它并不完全等同于刑罚目的,二者是系统与其组成元素、“目的价值”和“手段价值”的关系。要充分地加以彰显、强调刑法立法目的。若要切实贯彻罪责刑均衡原则,惩罚犯罪作为刑法目的的有机组成部分就具有合理性。应然地,我国刑法目的可表述为“为了惩罚和预防犯罪,保障人权,维护国家的整体法秩序”。刑法的根本目的：“保护国家的整体法秩序”是上位概念。可分解为刑罚目的(惩罚犯罪和预防犯罪)和人权保障目的两个的方面。     

“见危不救”犯罪化的层次分析

社会对见危不救行为是否定的.对其价值判断的这种一致性,使得对其犯罪化不只是可能,而且是必要的.对见危不救行为动用刑罚加以调整,使人们自愿承担救人于危难间的义务,以促进社会的整体利益.我国刑法中应增加"见危不救罪",但要有严格的范围限制.     

巨额财产来源不明罪量刑畸轻的危害

巨额财产来源不明罪的设立 ,对打击犯罪曾经起过积极作用。但随着经济的发展和时间的推移 ,腐败分子巨额财产来源不明的现象却屡禁不止、愈演愈烈 ,重要原因之一是由于刑法规定的该罪的量刑幅度畸轻。这不仅违背了罪刑相适应的原则 ,放纵了犯罪 ,而且为执法者徇私枉法开了方便之门。建议立法机构比照贪污、受贿罪的量刑进行修改 ,提高法定刑、增加量刑档次。