Patterns of Change in Crime and Punishment

• Ancient Rome

  Who Made the Law?

  • The Twelve Tables: A written code of law created by the emperors and the Senate.
  • Order was maintained by soldiers, not a police force.
  • Vigiles (firefighters) patrolled the streets at night to prevent crimes and fires.
  • Courts ruled on guilt or innocence. Serious crimes were tried by a jury, while less serious ones were tried by a magistrate.
• What Were the Crimes? Ancient Rome

  • Common crimes included robbery, burglary, fraud in trade, arson, and murder.
  • Running away as a slave and being Christian (until Emperor Constantine's conversion) were also crimes.
• What Were the Punishments? Ancient rome

  • Punishments were severe and depended on social status.
  • Plebians: Flogged or fined for minor crimes; executed for serious crimes.
  • Patricians: Exiled or executed for serious crimes.
  • Slaves: Harsh punishments like crucifixion or forced combat.
  • Decimation: Military punishment where every tenth soldier was executed to maintain discipline.
• The Middle Ages

  Who Made the Law?

  • Laws were made by the king and local lords. A crime was any activity breaking the king’s law, forming the basis of English common law.
• Who Enforced the Law? Middle Ages

  • Communities enforced the law through hue and cry (a call for help). The parish constable and sheriff helped catch criminals.
  • Nighttime was dangerous; watchmen patrolled the streets.
  • Trials included trial by ordeal (surviving pain proved innocence) and trial by combat (winner was right).

  Royal courts tried certain crimes with justices of the peace. Church courts were more lenient, claiming benefit of the clergy.
• What Were the Crimes?middle ages

  • Mostly minor crimes like damage to property, theft, or poaching.
  • Serious crimes included murder, arson, treason, and rebellion.
• What Were the Punishments? Middle Ages

  • No prisons for punishment, only temporary holding before trial.
  • Minor crimes: fines, flogging, public humiliation (stocks, pillories).
  • Serious crimes: execution by hanging or beheading, mutilation.
  • Women faced specific punishments for scolding, prostitution, or witchcraft.
• Modern Times

  Who Made the Law?

  • Social changes, economic gaps, and public opinion influenced laws.
  • Decriminalization of some acts like homosexuality (1967 in Britain, 1993 in Ireland) and abortion (1967 in Britain, 2018 in Ireland).
• Who Enforced the Law?modern times

  • Modern police adapted to new crimes with motorization, specialized units (drugs, fraud, traffic), and neighborhood watches.
  • Scientific advances: fingerprinting, DNA testing, CCTV, radios, and databases.
• What Were the Crimes?modern times

  • Crime figures rose from the 1960s. New crimes emerged, including cybercrimes, terrorism, and drug offenses.
  • New laws protected against racial, religious, and sexual discrimination.
• What Were the Punishments?modern times

  • Prisons aimed at reform; the death penalty abolished in 2004 in Britain.
  • Alternatives to prison: probations, community service, and electronic tagging.
  • Juvenile courts and youth detention centers were established, though re-offending rates remained high.