Medieval

• Henry II


  Starts Medieval Section

  Centralises Law and Order under the King
• Several ways for convicted criminals to avoid death penalty if they could reach a church and claim sanctuary as long as they agreed to leave the country
• Ways for convicted criminals to avoid death penalty

  • Reach a church and claim sanctuary
  • Agree to leave the country
  • Men joined the army during times of war
  • Pregnancy protected some women
  • Those who could read could claim the benefit of the clergy and demand to be tried in a more lenient church
• Medieval Kings had an increased interest in laws, policing, trials, and punishments
• Growing belief that harsh punishments were the best ways to deter criminals
• Coroners were royal officials
• Sheriff

  If hue and cry failed, he was responsible for assembling a posse to hunt down the criminals
• Tithings and The Hue and Cry continued
• Village Constables were appointed annually to look out for crime and lead the hue and cry when necessary

  Unpaid volunteers but usually well respected members of the communitie
• Unnatural deaths had to be reported to the coroners
• Manor Courts


  Local courts used to deal with minor crimes
• Most minor crimes were punished with fines paid to the King's officials
• Stocks and Pillories


  Used to punish certain crimes such as selling weak beer and underweight bread
• Whipping

  Used along with stocks and pillories

  Further way of deterring crimes
• Capital Punishment


  Increased use of execution

  Hanging was seen as a necessary public deterrent