Mental Illness, a Cause for Criminality

China Newsweek

August 18

Two recent bus arsons—one in Hangzhou on July 5 and the other in Guangzhou on July 15—have stirred up the public's fear of such disturbing incidents.

Criminology studies carried out in many countries have shown that different seasons may give rise to different types of crimes. Violent crimes and sexual assaults, for example, are more likely to surge in the heat of July and August. However, the possibility that someone might commit a crime is more likely related to his or her mental state.

Whether the two criminals who set fire to the buses have psychotic disorders can only be determined through strict psychological tests. However, it is clear that they both suffer from anti-social tendencies. They were dissatisfied with their lives and sought to exact revenge by harming innocent members of the public. To an extent, these mentally unstable men merely craved attention for their misdeeds as a way to validate their existence.

To prevent episodes like those on the city buses in the future, special mental and medical attention must be provided to those in disadvantaged groups, those who have received unfair treatment in society, and those with nowhere to go for help.

Global Economic Governance

World Affairs

September 1

"Global economic governance" is a new concept put forth in recent years. In 1944, the Bretton Woods Conference established a postwar international economic order and gave birth to three global economic stabilizers: the International Monetary Fund, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the World Bank, which combined took charge of global finance, trade and development. At present, the three organizations are still playing important roles in the international economy. However, to address new problems that could not be properly solved under the old order, the concept of global economic governance has come into being.

After the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, there emerged questions over the effectiveness of the postwar international economic order. Because it was dominated by a small group of industrialized countries, it merely reflected the interests and needs of the developed world, making the majority of international players question its validity. The financial crisis forced developed countries to further realize that without the participation of emerging economies, it's hard to maintain the stability of the global economic order. The Group of 20 Summit was inaugurated in November 2008, providing a platform for developed, developing and emerging countries to join hands to resolve thorny global economic and financial problems.

However, even today, the concept of global economic governance is in its early stages and developed countries continue to dominate international economic decision-making. Much remains to be done to make the vision a reality.

Tightening Supervision for Parole

Guangzhou Daily

August 27

The Supreme People's Procuratorate announced on August 26 that 711 criminals who served their terms outside prison on the pretenses of parole or who were released ahead of time were imprisoned again, of whom 76 used to hold high official positions. While people applaud the procuratorate's move, many can't help but question how these criminals were able to "break" out of prison or how the judicial body hopes to prevent such violations in the future.

Sentence reductions, the option of parole and allowance for serving sentences outside of prison temporarily have increasingly been used by wealthy and politically powerful prisoners to stay out of brick-and-mortar prisons. These people bribe officials in order to secure releases ahead of their terms. Often, they are given freedom after spending just a short mount of time in prison. Such practices have harmed judicial justice and equality and gone against the law of the land, while fostering judicial corruption.

The Central Government has paid close attention to this problem and is working to address it. However, to fully realize judicial justice, it needs to establish a tighter supervision system so that laws can be enforced to the letter.

Officials involved in illegal sentence reductions should be held responsible and punished accordingly. Doctors faking medical certificates for prisoners to apply for compassionate release should be disciplined, while those who are justified in serving terms outside of prison should be held under strict control. Additionally, authorities should be under public scrutiny so as to fully root out judicial corruption.