美国刑法中的辩护理由教案.docxVIP

辩护理由美国刑法犯罪构成双层模式侧重于刑法的公正性，犯罪本体要件是种种具体罪行的抽象，形成行为样态，体现国家意志和权力，发挥规范行为和保护社会公共利益的刑法功能；责任充足要件，是诉讼活动中辩护理由的总结，上升为实体范畴，体现国家权力自我约束机制和保障公民权利的刑法功能。这种模式体现控辩双方对等活动，蕴含刑法的维护秩序和保障人权两大功能，表明“定罪过程”的公正性价值定向。在一般辩护理由内部还可以根据一定的标准进行分类，如美国刑法理论上把一般辩护理由分为两类，一类是免责事由（excuse）,包括未成年、精神病、错误等；另一类是正当化事由（justification）,包括紧急避险、正当防卫、警察圈套等。所谓正当化事由，是指尽管行为从表面上是违法的，但在特定情形下，此行为是对社会有益的行为，行为人不仅不应当承担刑事责任，反而应当受到法律的鼓励。所谓免责事由，是指行为人虽然实施了违法行为，但从道德的角度上看其行为并不值得受到谴责，因此免除其刑事责任。由此可见，正当化事由与免责事由之间存在本质区别：正当化事由的重点在于行为本身，即行为是否正确；而免责事由的重点在于行为人，即虽然行为人实施了违法行为，但在道德上不应因其违法行为而受到谴责或处罚。之所以出现这种区分，是因为在早期的英国法律中，在重罪的情况下，具有正当化辩护事由的将被宣告无罪；而具有免责辩护事由的被告人将会受到与罪犯相同的处罚。支持区分的理由之一：具有共犯的刑事责任。乙在甲实施杀人行为提供帮助，乙应承担何种刑事责任？第一节未成年（infancy）现在大约有半数的美国州已明文规定了未成年人的责任年龄，各州的最低责任年龄各不相同。未明文规定的州采用传统普通法的责任年龄。the common-law doctrine that children below the age of seven are conclusively presumed incapable of committing a crime, that children seven to 14 are merely presumed to be incapable of crime, and that children more than 14 have no presumption of incapacity.(a) A person may not be prosecuted for or convicted of any offense that the person committed when younger than 15 years of age except:(1) perjury（伪证） and aggravated perjury when it appears by proof that the person had sufficient discretion to understand the nature and obligation of an oath;(2) a violation of a penal statute cognizable under Chapter 729, Transportation Code, except for conduct for which the person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment or confinement in jail；(3) a violation of a motor vehicle traffic ordinance of an incorporated city or town in this state；(4) a misdemeanor punishable by fine only；(5) a violation of a penal ordinance of a political subdivision。(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person may not be prosecuted for or convicted of anoffensedescribed by Subsection(a)(4)or(5) thatthe person committed when younger than 10 years of age.(e) A person who is at least 10 years of age but younger than 15 years of age is presumed incapable of committing an offense described by Subsecti