康熙主张“以德化民，以刑弼教”，“宽则得众，信则民任”，反对无论任何犯罪一律重刑处断的绝对方法。在立法上，他注意体恤民命，针对律例繁简不一的情况，对清朝建立以来所用的例文进行了系统编定。他还随时针对法律与现实中犯罪不适应的情况，因时制宜地予以修订。在刑事司法活动中，他不仅亲自参与审案，把人命案件当作大事，坚持疑罪从轻和少杀慎杀，及时清理积案。他还注重挑选能力强和办事谨慎的人担任司法官员，对于不肖司法官员能及时予以惩处。在刑罚的执行上，他注重对过于苛责的刑罚执行时间和地点及时进行调整，以期给人犯自新的机会，防止人犯因为过于恶劣的刑罚执行环境而死于刑罚的执行中。%Kanxi insisted in educating his people with moral and taking punishment as secondary choice. He objected severe punishment on all crimes. In legislation, he showed solicitude for people. And he emended systematically all laws so that they could be applied to specific crimes. In criminal justice, he took those cases concerning life as something vitally important and often involved himself in them. He insisted in light punishment in doubtful cases and prudence with death penalty. Further, he urged officials to get rid of those cases unsettled. In addition, he chose capable and cautious persons to be law-officers. He could punish those unqualified in time. In terms of execution of penalty, he could adjust the executing time and place in an attempt to give criminals a chance to make a fresh start. This might prevent prisoners from dying in the execution of their penalty.
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