A comparative study of bystander intervention in Iranian and American law

Abstract

Helping at-risk people is one of the most important ethical norms that has always been emphasized as a vital factor in maintaining and strengthening solidarity in societies. But since the mere existence of a moral duty cannot be a requirement for individuals to engage in philanthropic behavior, it is necessary for criminal policymakers to develop ethical behaviors in order to develop this culture and encourage individuals to adopt socially acceptable behaviors To this end the legislature of the Islamic Republic of Iran and many European countries have criminalized the non-intervention of people in emergency situations and have thus emphasized this moral value. However, in the American legal system with the exception of a few states, due to the overriding of individualistic values over ethical values, no statutory general duty to assist at-risk individuals has been foreseen, And criminal policymakers can only punish the special observer if there is a specific duty to prove the causal relationship between the abandonment of the act and the criminal outcome.

Keywords

• general bystander
• special bystander
• legal obligation
• moral obligation
• criminal liability