• Purpose of punishments in Medieval England

  Deterrence and retribution-public, harsh punishments like stocks, pillory, hanging, and mutilation.
• Role of the Church in Medieval law enforcement

  Church courts, Benefit of Clergy, sanctuary, and trial by ordeal (until 1215).
• Law in 1166 changing law enforcement

  Assize of Clarendon-introduced prisons for those awaiting trial.
• End of trial by ordeal

  1215-Abolished after the Pope banned priests from taking part.
• The Bloody Code


  A period of harsh laws with many capital offences, starting c.1688 and peaking by 1810.
• Peak of witch-hunting in England

  1645-1647, led by Matthew Hopkins.
• Main punishment for heresy under Mary I

  Burning at the stake, 1553-1558.
• Significance of the Gunpowder Plot

  1605-Treason became a key political crime, harsh punishments followed.
• Transportation as a punishment

  1615, first to America, later to Australia (from 1778).
• Public executions in 1868


  They ended; executions moved inside prisons.
• Metropolitan Police Act


  1829-Created the first professional police force in London.
• Criminal Investigation Department (CID) establishment

  1878
• Gaols Act


  1823-Improved prison conditions and separated prisoners by category.
• Pentonville Prison

  First 'separate system' prison, opened in 1842.
• Peak of the Bloody Code

  1810-Over 200 crimes punishable by death.
• Abolition of the death penalty in Britain

  1965
• First use of fingerprinting in policing

  1901
• Introduction of Police National Computer

  1974
• Use of DNA evidence in policing

  1980s.
• Derek Bentley case significance

  Executed in 1953; his case led to debates about the death penalty and miscarriages of justice.
• Emergence of new types of crime

  Cybercrime, hate crime, terrorism, drug offences, domestic violence.
• Focus of punishment in modern Britain

  Rehabilitation and reform-open prisons, community service, treatment programmes.
• Non-custodial sentences in the late 20th century

  Community service, electronic tagging, ASBOs.
• Specialist police units developed in the 20th century

  Fraud Squad, drug units, dog handling, Special Branch.
• Conscientious objectors case study

  1914-1918 (WWI), 1939-1945 (WWII)-refused to fight on moral or religious grounds, faced punishment.