Once again about the basis of criminal liability in the aspect of modern criminal policy

Abstract

The article shows the evolution of the normative model of the basis of criminal liability in soviet times and in recent history (during the period of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR in 1922, the Criminal Code of the RSFSR in 1926, the Criminal Code of the RSFSR in 1960 and the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in 1996). The author substantiates the opinion that when determining the basis of criminal liability, the lawmaker should avoid extremes and strive to find the «golden mean». In this regard, the concept of a “dangerous state of personality”, developed by representatives of the sociological school of law and introduced into the domestic criminal law almost a hundred years ago, is criticized. At the same time, the article proves the need to take into account, within reasonable limits and forms, in the process of criminal law-making, the dangerous properties of the criminal’s personality. The author criticizes the criminal policy of recent years regarding the introduction of amendments to the Special Part of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which are not consistent with art. 3, 8 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (when the boundaries of the corpus delicti are vaguely formulated, not acts, but states are criminalized, etc.).