China'scriminal lawto be revisedonce moreAdraftofthecriminallawamendment-whichwillincluderecommendationssuchasreducingthenumberof capitaloffencesandincreasingthelengthofprisonsentences-willreportedlybesubmittedtotheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongressnextmonth.Thedraftcallsforthreetypesofcrimestobetaken off the list of capital offenses,includingincitingotherstocommitcrimes,economiccrimesandcrimesthatcanbetackledthroughincreasedlegislation, such as abduction and kidnapping.'Convictedcriminalsovertheageof 70or75shouldalso beexemptfromcapital punishment,accordingtothedraft
China's criminal law to be revised once more • A draft of the criminal law amendment - which will include recommendations such as reducing the number of capital offences and increasing the length of prison sentences - will reportedly be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress next month. • The draft calls for three types of crimes to be taken off the list of capital offenses, including inciting others to commit crimes, economic crimes, and crimes that can be tackled through increased legislation, such as abduction and kidnapping." Convicted criminals over the age of 70 or 75 should also be exempt from capital punishment, according to the draft
Therearecurrently68crimesthatcanleadtocapitalpunishmentinChina,makingthisthecountrywiththe most capital offences intheworldChu Huaizhi, a professor of criminal law at PekingUniversity said,"There is no need to have somany capitaloffences.Firstly,itdoesnoteffectivelyreducethecrimerate.Andsecondly,itgives people aroundthe worlda negative imageof China."Otherscholarsofcriminallawalsorecommendcommutingdeathsentencestoextended timeinjail,and reducingthepossibilityforparole.Andthey suggest making surethatthosefoundguiltyofseriousviolentcrimescouldbesentencedtomorethan20yearsinjail
• There are currently 68 crimes that can lead to capital punishment in China, making this the country with the most capital offences in the world. • Chu Huaizhi, a professor of criminal law at Peking University said, "There is no need to have so many capital offences. Firstly, it does not effectively reduce the crime rate. And secondly, it gives people around the world a negative image of China." • Other scholars of criminal law also recommend commuting death sentences to extended time in jail, and reducing the possibility for parole. And they suggest making sure that those found guilty of serious violent crimes could be sentenced to more than 20 years in jail
MovementstowardshumaneexecutionInearlyNewEngland,publicexecutionswereavery solemnandsorrowfuloccasion,sometimesattended bylarge crowds,who also listened toaGospelmessageandremarksbylocalpreachersand politicians.The Connecticut Courant recordsonesuchpublicexecutiononDecember1,1803saying,"The assembly conducted throughthewholeinaveryorderlyandsolemnmanner,somuchso,astooccasionanobservinggentlemanacquainted with other countries as well as this, tosaythat suchan assembly,so decentand solemn,could not be collected anywhere but in NewEngland."Trends in most of the world have longbeentomovetolesspainful,ormorehumaneexecutions
Movements towards humane execution • In early New England, public executions were a very solemn and sorrowful occasion, sometimes attended by large crowds, who also listened to a Gospel message and remarks by local preachers and politicians. The Connecticut Courant records one such public execution on December 1, 1803, saying, "The assembly conducted through the whole in a very orderly and solemn manner, so much so, as to occasion an observing gentleman acquainted with other countries as well as this, to say that such an assembly, so decent and solemn, could not be collected anywhere but in New England." Trends in most of the world have long been to move to less painful, or more humane, executions
Expressionsthatarelikelytobe usedto reveal one's attitudestowardsthe death penalty. Pros:1.It isnot apleasant punishment, butajustandnecessaryone.2.Ibelievethatthedeathpenaltyisfairand necessary in some cases.。3. The death penalty preserves the dignityofhumanlife.·4.Thedeathpenaltysentencehasbeenarecognized andwidelyacceptedform ofpunishmentfrom time immemorial
Expressions that are likely to be used to reveal one’s attitudes towards the death penalty: • Pros: • 1. It is not a pleasant punishment, but a just and necessary one. • 2. I believe that the death penalty is fair and necessary in some cases. • 3. The death penalty preserves the dignity of human life. • 4. The death penalty sentence has been a recognized and widely accepted form of punishment from time immemorial
Cons:1.Thedeathpenaltyshouldbeabolished. 2. It is an inhuman or degrading form ofpunishment.3.It deniesan executed person's humanity.Thatunigue and irreplaceable humanlife isterminated;never againto exist, at least notinthe present life4.Itstripstheconvictedpersonofall dignityandtreatshimasanobjecttobe eliminated and/orannihilated bythe state under the guise ofmeeting outlawful punishment.5.It is my belief that the death penaltyis archaioandbarbaric
• Cons: • 1. The death penalty should be abolished. • 2. It is an inhuman or degrading form of punishment. • 3. It denies an executed person’s humanity. That unique and irreplaceable human life is terminated; never again to exist, at least not in the present life • 4. It strips the convicted person of all dignity and treats him as an object to be eliminated and / or annihilated by the state under the guise of meeting out lawful punishment. • 5．It is my belief that the death penalty is archaic and barbaric