論新冠疫情時代，刑事司法制度之變革及質評

On the Reform of Criminal Justice System in the Time of COVID-19

新冠疫情肆虐全球，為了維護公民健康福祉及公共安全，同時保障刑事司法制度正常運行，域外紛紛變革本國刑事司法制度。法治國採取的措施主要為如下幾個方面：一方面，變革刑事訴訟制度，主要為變革保釋制度，踐行微罪不舉及適格案件施行非訴政策等特殊處遇。此外，法庭運行面相有所變化，如推行視頻會議及採取獨任法官制等。另一方面，變革刑罰執行制度，變革體恤釋放制度，將新冠疫情作為獄犯申請體恤釋放重要事由。此外，拓展開放式處遇適用範圍及採取視頻訪問等。上述變革具有積極意義，有助於避免病毒傳播以維護公民健康福祉及社會公益；有助於改善獄犯境遇；有助於維護刑事司法制度正常運行，以及時向被追訴人輸送正義。此外，新冠疫情倒逼刑事司法制度改革，稀釋往昔刑事司法之過度懲罰性，使其更具謙抑性及仁愛性。當然，有些做法不無爭議，屬於新冠疫情當下不得以次優選擇。

"The COVID-19 epidemic raged all over the world. In order to safeguard citizens’health and public safety and ensure the normal operation of the criminal justice system, countries ruled by law have taken some countermeasures in the following aspects: On the one hand, reforming the bail system and practicing special treatment measures, such as non-reporting policy as for petty crime and non-prosecution policy as for competent cases. In addition, the operation of some local courts has changed, carrying out videoconferencing and adopting the system of sole judge. On the other one hand, reforming the penalty execution system, for example, optimizing the compassionate release system, and taking the new crown epidemic as an important reason for prisoners to apply for compassionate release. In addition, expand the applicable scope of open treatment and taking video access, etc. The above-mentioned reforms have positive significance and help to avoid the spread of viruses to safeguard citizens’health and welfare and social welfare;It also helps to maintain the human dignity of prisoners and accused person and is helpful to maintain the normal operation of the criminal justice system to deliver justice to the accused in time. In addition, the COVID-19 epidemic forced the reform of the criminal justice system and diluted the excessive punishment of criminal justice in the past. Of course, some practices are controversial,which should be second-best choice at present."