“情节严重”的解释误区及立法反思

虽然定性又定量的立法模式决定了“情节严重”的中国式立法不可避免,但并不意味着立法者可以随心所欲地进行规定,最高司法机关可以恣意地进行解释。有关“情节严重”的司法解释,存在混淆影响责任刑的情节与影响预防刑的情节;违反罪刑法定、罪刑相适应及平等适用刑法原则;有悖法益保护原理;无视犯罪类型;超出构成要件范畴进行过度评价,有违规范的保护目的及罪数原理;不符合期待可能性原理;将引起被害人或者其近亲属自杀、自残、精神失常的案件事实认定为“情节严重”,形成间接处罚;将造成所谓恶劣社会影响认定为“情节严重”,使司法活动流于恣意;规定不具有一贯性,显得过于随意,等等问题。至于立法上,存在表述不统一、过于跳跃、随意等问题。

Misinterpretation of Serious Circumstances and Legislative Reflection.

Although the qualitative and quantitative legislative model determines that the "serious circumstances" of Chinese-style legislation is inevitable, it does not mean that legislators can provide as they wish and the highest judicial organ can interpret it at will. Regarding the judicial interpretation of "serious circumstances", there is confusion between the circumstances affecting liability punishment and the circumstances affecting preventive punishment; violation of the principle of legality, adaptation and equal application of criminal law; violation of the principle of protection of legal interests; disregard of the types of crimes. Excessive evaluation beyond the scope of constituent elements is contrary to the normative purpose of protection and the principle of the number of crimes, and does not conform to the principle of expected possibility. The facts of the case causing suicide, self-harm and mental disorder of the victim or his or her close relatives are identified as "serious circumstances", forming indirect punishment, and the so-called bad social impact is identified as "serious circumstances", which makes judicial activities wanton. The rules are not consistent, appear too casual, and so on. As for legislation, there are some problems, such as disunity of expressions, too much jumping, arbitrariness and so on.