PUNISHMENT

• Medieval punishments focussed heavily on deterrence and retribution.
• Wergild - Anglo-Saxon compensation fine, paid to the victim or their family. Amount depended on offense and the victim's position in society.
• Blood Feud - Anglo-Saxon justice system based on revenge. If someone was murdered, the family had the right to track down and kill the murderer. Often led to a cycle of violence.
• Common Anglo-Saxon law enforcement methods included fines, flogging/public humiliation and mutilation (for repeat offenders).
• Norman England saw an increase in the use of fines, public humiliation/flogging, mutilation and the death penalty.
• Wergild was abolished by the Normans. Instead, fines were paid to the King.
• Norman law enforcement saw the shift from retribution to deterrence as William I wanted to prevent opposition.
• In the Later Medieval period, there was an increase in fines, a decrease in the death penalty and the continuity of flogging/public humiliation.
• Prisons were NOT used as a punishment because they were too expensive.