刑事责任年龄下调背景下的“恶意补足年龄制度”适用问题研究

Research on the Application of the “Malicious Supplementary Age System” under the Background of the Reduction of the Age of Criminal Responsibility

摘要: 我国刑事法律责任年龄制度长期备受社会重视，但随着中国未成年犯罪逐步趋向低龄化、恶性化、残忍化，社会大众普遍开始要求降低中国刑事法律责任年龄下限，此种背景下是否应当引入“恶意补足年龄制度”，以应对低龄未成年人的恶性犯罪？我们应该知道，一项制度的引入并不是简单照搬，而是应当充分考虑国情、社会文化、法律体系等因素，“恶意补足年龄制度”根植于英美法系国家，贸然引入会与我国国情不相适应、与司法原则产生冲突，同时“恶意”的认定也面临诸多困难。修改后的《刑法修正案(十一)》立法使用弹性刑事责任年龄制度取代先前的“一刀切”模式，与“恶意补足年龄制度”之理念不谋而合，是符合我国实际和社会发展的思考结果。

Abstract: The age system for criminal legal responsibility in China has long been highly valued by society. However, with the gradual trend of juvenile delinquency towards younger age, malignancy, and cruelty in China, the general public has begun to demand a lower age limit for criminal legal responsibility in China. In this context, should the “malicious supplementation age system” be introduced to address the malignant crimes committed by young minors? We should know that the introduction of a system is not simply copying, but should take full account of national conditions, social culture, legal system and other factors. The “malicious age complement system” is rooted in common law countries. The hasty introduction will not adapt to China’s national conditions, and conflict with the principles of justice. At the same time, the identification of “malicious” also faces many difficulties. The revised Criminal Law Amendment (XI) legislation uses the flexible age of criminal responsibility system to replace the previous “one size fits all” model, which coincides with the concept of “malicious age complement system”, and is the result of thinking in line with China’s reality and social development.