This article addresses movements in Germany towards greater uniformity in sentencing since the entry into force of the first federal criminal code in 1871, with a particular focus on developments since the second half of the twentieth century. The author reviews the empirical evidence for sentence disparity; addresses the limitations of the constitutional principle of equality as a means for overcoming sentencing disparity; identifies the causes of sentence disparity and tracks practical efforts made to overcome that disparity, specifically through the introduction of prosecutorial guidelines and judicial manuals for certain frequent types of offending. He also explains and critiques different theoretical models for increasing sentencing equality, and reviews the advantages and potential uses of sentencing information systems such as a judgment database created in Japan. The author then turns to the contribution made by the appellate courts to greater uniformity in sentencing and expresses the hope that recent trends towards intensified guidance for trial courts in appeals concerning tax offences will be extended to other types of offences as well.

中文翻译：

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从量刑差异到量刑平等：德国经验

本文讨论了自 1871 年第一部联邦刑法典生效以来，德国在量刑方面的运动，特别关注自 20 世纪下半叶以来的发展。作者回顾了句子差异的经验证据；解决宪法平等原则作为克服量刑差异的手段的局限性；确定判刑差异的原因并跟踪为克服这种差异所做的实际努力，特别是通过针对某些常见类型的犯罪引入起诉指南和司法手册。他还解释和批评了提高量刑平等的不同理论模型，并审查量刑信息系统的优势和潜在用途，例如在日本创建的判决数据库。然后，作者转而谈到上诉法院为提高量刑一致性所做的贡献，并表示希望最近对审判法院在税务犯罪上诉中加强指导的趋势也能扩展到其他类型的犯罪。