英文摘要 |
It's been more than a decade since the establishment of the deferred prosecution system in 2002. In making a deferred prosecution agreement, prosecutors may require the defendant to bear certain burdens or meet certain conditions, whose contents are akin to that of criminal punishment. Therefore, this study aims to discuss whether the burdens and conditions imposed in a deferred prosecution agreement are in essence criminal punishment for the defendant. First, the study examines the nature of criminal punishment, and the similarities and differences between criminal punishment and the burdens and conditions imposed by deferred prosecution. The section also touches upon the principle of ne bis in idem. Prosecutors' requirement for the defendant's bearing of burdens and compliance with conditions begs the question of whether administrative units are allowed to impose additional punishment. Hence, whether those burdens and conditions belong to punishment of criminal laws becomes the key. Coincident ally, European countries have also raised questions regarding the issue, and the legal discourse they have engaged in serves as a source of reference. Finally, based on the discussions above, the study concludes that the burdens and conditions imposed by deferred prosecution are by nature punitive, warranting a re-examination of the current deferred prosecution system. |