Crime and Punishment

REVISION

Saxon Period AD 400-1100

• Main crime was of theft – examples?

• Violent crime quite rare

• Victims had to catch criminals – how?

• Adults formed ‘tithings’

Saxon Period AD 400-1100

• ‘Wergild’ paid to victims – how did this work?

• By 1100 more physical punishments

• Guilt decided by juries or

• ‘Trial by Ordeal’

The Later Middle Ages 1100-1500

• Most crime still petty theft

• New crime of heresy• Rebels accused of

treason• Traitors & heretics

publicly executed

The Later Middle Ages 1100-1500

• Policing also done by the Coroner & Sheriff

• Constables appointed• More physical

punishments• Courts developing –

work by royal judges & JPs

• Manor courts

Was Saxon justice harsh & superstitious?

• From early times the Blood Feud was allowed

• Wergild later introduced

• Hanging & mutilations as punishments

• Tithings used to stop crimes

• Juries decided guilt – ‘compurgation’

• Accused could be tried by ordeal or combat

What changes did the Normans make?

• Kept trial by ordeal & added trial by combat• Still used tithings• Wergild ended• Punishments designed to emphasise the

power of the king

Medieval & Modern Times

• Petty thefts• People responsible for

catching criminals• Beginning of jury

system• Wergild & physical

punishments• No prisons

• Huge variety of crime• National police force• Complex court system• Fines & imprisonment• Rehabilitation rather

than punishment• Neighbourhood Watch