SPECIAL ISSUE： EXAMINING THE DEATH PENALTY IN CHINA On the ＂criterion＂ of proof in capital cases and the revision of the Criminal Procedure Law

解决死刑案件质量问题，首先应保障死刑案件的实体公正，即案件的事实和证据不至于存在问题。而在保障死刑案件的事实和证据无质量问题中，首先需要考虑的是不会发生不可挽回的错误，同时，还需要防止发生不可饶恕的错误。为此，我们必须达到可以判处死刑的“证明标准”即证明要求。由于证明要求的实现应当以完善的程序作为保障，因此，中国的刑事诉讼法需要对死刑案件的相关程序予以进一步完善。

SPECIAL ISSUE： EXAMINING THE DEATH PENALTY IN CHINA On the ＂criterion＂ of proof in capital cases and the revision of the Criminal Procedure Law

To guarantee quality in capital cases, the first essential is to ensure substantive justice, which means that there must be no problems with regard to the facts and evidence in the case. In ensuring that there is no qualitative problem with either the facts or the evidence in capital cases, the first consideration is that there should be no chance of an irretrievable error. At the same time, it is necessary to forestall any unforgivable miscarriages of justice. To do this, it is necessary to meet the ＂criterion of proof＂ for imposing a death sentence, that is, the requirements for proof. As the requirements for proof can only be guaranteed by adequate procedures, China＇s Criminal Procedure Law needs to improve its handling of procedures relating to capital cases.