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Crime And Punishment
Anglo-Saxon
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Created by
Isobel Nery
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Cards (26)
Medieval
England
ruled by
Kings
Responsible
for making laws and
protecting
land from
attack
Great Majority of people followed teachings of the
Catholic Church
and attended
services regulary
Anglo-Saxon
society is based on
close-knit farming communities
Most common crimes were against
property
e.g.
petty
theft
As there was no
police force
, local communities played a vital part in
policing
and
trials
Hue And Cry (Policing Method)
If an
alarm
was raised the entire village had to
hunt
for the criminal
If someone didn't
join
the whole village had to pay a
heavy fine
Trial by Local Jury
A jury of local men who knew the accuser and the accused
If no clear evidence jury members decided guilty or innocent based on their knowledge of those concerned
Trial by Ordeal
If local jury couldn't agree then trial by ordeal was used in hope God would decide
All ordeals were taken in or near a church with a priest present
Wergild
(
Fine
)
Compensation
paid to the victim or their family
Level of
fine
was set by the
king's laws
Different
prices
for different
roles
or
bodily injuries
Execution
Death penalty
was used for treason against the
King
or betraying your
lord
Helped enforce
loyalty
Mutilation
Reoffenders
could
lose
a
hand
,
ear
or their
nose
or even be
blinded
Forest Laws
1068
Trial by Ordeal abolished in England
1215
William
I was faced with controlling 2 million Anglo-Saxons with just over 7000 Norman soldiers
Church Courts
were established
Separated courts used for
churchmen
and clergy when they were accused of
crimes
Tended to be more
leniently
as they didn't want to bring their
reputation
into disrepute
Many saw these as a
hindrance
to justice
Normans ended
Wergild
Fines
were now paid to the King's officials in the
Murdrum
Fine
After the Romans left in 400 AD
Anglo-Saxons
and Jutes invaded
Britain
Period of relative
lawlessness
and blood feuds were the main way of settling grudges or gaining
justice
Blood feuds
1. If somebody hurts or murders someone in your family, you have the
right
to go back and
murder
someone in their family
2. This leads to retribution,
revenge
and very
little justice
Tithing
Groups of men over 12 who are put into a group together, and if one of them commits a
crime
, the rest have to pay a
fine
Oath helpers
People who can
swear
your innocence if you have a
good
standing in the local community
Trial by ordeal
If the jury cannot decide your
guilt
, you will undergo an ordeal like plunging your hand into boiling water to appeal to
God
Wergild
Fines paid to the people who have been
harmed
by a
crime
, with the amount depending on the victim's status
There are no
police
or
prisons
, only temporary imprisonment until trial
Punishments
Fines
Corporal
punishment (mutilation, whipping, stocks)
Capital
punishment (hanging, beheading)
Punishments
are about deterrence, and there is a focus on
loyalty
and oaths
Court system
Folk
moots/
hundred
courts (monthly)
Shire
courts (
twice
a year)
Royal
courts (for
serious
criminals)