死刑的存廢一向具有爭議性，而我國隨著社會的進步，以及對於人權的重視，過去存在於特別刑法的死刑已逐步廢除，其中最讓人詬病的懲治盜匪條例，也於二○○二年完全廢除。但由於我國一般人民普遍仍反對廢除死刑的情況下，目前的刑法規範不僅仍存有死刑，甚且還存有唯一死刑的規定，這些可能有違憲之虞的規定，未來如何解決，將是我國人權保障至何程度的重要指標。而關於死刑存廢的探討，國內文獻不可謂不少，有從調查方式著手、有從法律觀點著手、有從社會觀點著手，杵文雖以法律層面為探討，但將重點擺在以憲法正當程序原則為基準的檢視，以有別於以往的論述。

　　　　　The abolition or retention of the death penalty is a controversial topic. In Taiwan the death penalty is a very important punishment and many people think that it can deter criminals. This article concentrates on the question of the due process of law and what influence this may have on its role as a deterrent. While what is discussed may be an abstract, academic principle, consideration of it should lead us to reformulate our view of the death penalty.