Crime and punishment in Britian c1000-present

• Types of crime relevant to the study of crime and punishment since c.1000:

  • Crimes against the person: inflict harm on a person, including murder, rape, harassment, domestic violence, and assault
  • Crimes against property: theft crimes with no threat of force or violence towards an individual, including burglary, car theft, and arson
  • Crimes against authority: crimes that threaten or oppose the government or leaders, including treason, conspiracy, and espionage
• Punishments introduced over time to ensure people reconsider their actions and follow the law in the future:

  • Retribution: punishment intended for revenge, examples include blood feud, mutilation, and the death penalty
  • Deterrence: punishment intended to discourage further crime, examples include public whipping, stocks and pillory, transportation, and the death penalty
  • Rehabilitation or reform: punishment intended to improve character and contribute positively to society, examples include prison and community service
• Methods of law enforcement:

  • Initially organised by the local community through tithings and the hue and cry
  • Over time, the king and government took more responsibility for law enforcement
  • Resulted in the centralised and specialised police force we have today
• Advances in technology have led to new crimes being committed
• Law enforcement and punishment have seen the most change, with government taking more responsibility for law and order
• Attitudes in society have shifted from deterrence to rehabilitation
• Modern Britain, 1900-present, with the early 1900s sometimes called the ‘Edwardian’ period
• Century: a period of 100 years
• Decade: a period of 10 years
• Continuity: when something remains the same as before
• Progress: positive change or improvement
• Regression: negative change where things worsen
• Rate of change: the speed at which change occurs (e.g., slow, fast, rapid, or stagnant)
• Trend: the general direction in which something is developing or changing
• Turning point: a significant moment of change
• What is a social crime?

  an act most people don't believe is criminal and which they are prepared to commit or ignore
• Capital punishment, particularly death by hanging, was used for treason to deter others
• Corporal punishment included mutilation, such as cutting off someone’s hand, for repeat offenders to deter them
• The pillory and stocks were used as punishments to humiliate convicted criminals