대법원 양형기준에 대한 비판적 고찰 - 피고인의 이익에 부합하는 양형기준의 해석을 중심으로 -

Sentencing guidelines should have justifiable purpose and proper means, just like any other legal institutions. In Korea, since 2009 in which the first form of sentencing guidelines took effect, the sentencing guidelines for the crimes of murder,the sexual crimes, the crimes of robbery, the property crimes, the crimes of perjury,the crimes of false charge, the crimes of kidnapping, the crimes of fraud, the crimes of drugs, etc., have been established by Korean Sentencing Committee. Unfortunately,however, there has not been any living debates among korean scholars about what are good forms of sentencing guidelines, the establishment of which has been lead by practitioners, such as judges and prosecutors. In short, Korean sentencing guidelines have been formed, mainly reflecting the opinions of the Korean Supreme Court. First of all, we should analyze the current Korean sentencing guidelines system, to clarify how the legality principle in which legislators hold the exclusive power to tell about what is crime and which level of punishment is proper could reconcile with the current Korean sentencing guidelines. Also, we should reconsider if there is any other alternative means to regulate sentencing area. Also, in the current korean sentencing guidelines, we should think more about the ground on which defendants have opportunities to realize their rights more effectively. The sentencing guidelines is not just the reference book for judges but should be interpreted as an legal institution in which a citizen's liberty should not be deprived of in a arbitrary way. To make it possible, we correctly understand the features of the current Korean sentencing guidelines. Also, this article rely on the debates which happened around American sentencing guidelines. The current korean sentencing guidelines will be so controversial area. Establishing sentencing guidelines means the opportunities of considering unlawfulness and culpability of criminal act in a more details. It is a serious question if the Korean Sentencing Committee has try to look at this aspect. Fundamentally, in the area of sentencing, sentencing factor should not take the form of isolated categories that resemble the elements of a crime. Rather, sentencing guidelines should take the form of providing more discretion. Albert Alschuler has been right at this point. The problems happening in sentencing area should be resolved in a more practical way, rather than with categorization of legal factors.