Bloody Code, Law Enforcement, Early Prisons and Transportation. Flashcards
why did they enforce new laws in 1500 - 1700
because traditional methods became less effective and towns were becoming more Populated
why did crime increase
as there was more population it was easier to get away with crime like theft.
what was the role of town constables
stop suspected criminals, break up fights and help with local administrative issues like collecting payments for road cleaning
what did professional thief takers do
thief takers were paid a reward for catching a criminal and delivering them to the law
how was thief taker corrupted
as some criminals also operated as thief takers and informed on rival criminal gang to make money
who was Jonathan Wild
he was the most infamous thief taker who secretly led a gang of thieves who claimed rewards when they handed in the stolen goods
what was the punishment for drunkness
pillory or stocks
what was the punishment for vagrancy
corporal (whipping, maiming or branding)
what was the punishment for heresy in 16th century
burning at the stake
how were prison conditions in the 16th century
they were poor as inmates had to pay the prison warden for food and other basic things like bedding
define gatehouse
building forming a gateway at the entrance to a town or important house, with a room or rooms above
were night watchers paid
no they were unpaid volunteers who also had to a normal job in the day to earn a living
name a house of correction
Bridewell prison
how were poor people punished in house of correction
they had to do hard labour like breaking rocks to pay for for their keep
how did so many people die in prisons
prisons were dirty and unhealthy with no proper sanitation and many prisoners died of disease like typhus
what were punishments for smuggling poaching or treason
hanging, drawing and quartering
define capital crime
a crime that is punished with the death penalty
what is a pardon
when a person is let off punishment for a crime of which they have been convicted
what was plead for belly
if a pregnant women was condemned to death she would use plead for belly to be allowed to live until the child was born
what is transportation
being sent away from England to serve a punishment in a colony abroad
why was transportation favoured
- it was seen as an effective deterrent 2. England did not have an effective prison system so made it easier 3. England wanted to establish permanent colonies in North America
define colonies
new settlements in foreign lands often taken by force from the original inhabitants
what is rehabilitate
is to help someone
roughly how many people were transported to America in the 16th century
historians estimate that between 50,000 to 80,000 people were transported
how many capital crimes were there by 1688
there were 50
why was the bloody code introduced
to create a strong deterrent so that crime rates would be reduced
why was the bloody code unclear
as the penalties were so severe, executions were not always carried out. Criminals could receive a pardon. This made the bloody code unclear
what did James I do to vagrant children
he gave permission for vagrant children in London to be arrested and sent for transportation
what happened to transported children
many died as conditions on board she and in colonies were extremely tough
why were there town constables
they were appointed by local people with good standing in the community to better the law enforcements
