Computers to decide death sentences

THE CHINESE have decided that it is better to let a computer decide if a criminal should be executed.

New software patched into a legal database is being used by judges on 100 different crimes, including robbery and rape, by tapping in details of the crime and the mitigating circumstances.

The "penalty calculator" provides a recommended sentence including those punishable by death.

The software was designed as a method of dealing with corrupt judges and been trailed in 1,500 cases. Now it looks like it will be used in courts across the land.

Software designer Qin Ye has been working on the program since 2003 and, helped by Shandong legal officials, has loaded it with a huge database of Chinese law and case precedents.

On the plus side it will ensure standarised decisions on prison terms and avoid abuse of the discretionary power of judges as a result of corruption or insufficient legal training.

On the downside the judges will not have to pay so much attention in drawn-out trials. If the software is ever hacked, then it would be possible for a murder to get a light sentence, or a person who wears a loud shirt in a built up area to be sentenced to death by firing squad.

China has the death penalty for 68 offences including, bigamy, stealing petrol, tax evasion and computer hacking.

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