Ch 4

Question 1

Borh

Answer 1

Earliest known system of policing in England. The borh, a unit that was responsible for policing and security, was generally a collective of 12 individuals who stood surety for one another’s good behavior.

Question 2

Frankpledge

Answer 2

A system of policing that replaced the borh. A frankpledge included all boys and men age 12 or older from 10 households into groups referred to as tythings.

Question 3

Tything or tithing

Answer 3

A system of policing that replaced the borh. A tithing was a group of all boys and men age 12 or older from 10 households.

Question 4

Hundred

Answer 4

Ten tythings grouped together into a collective for police and security purposes. A hundred was supervised by a leader known as a hundredman.

Question 5

Parish constable

Answer 5

Policing agent who operated in smaller towns. Initially elected by the parishioners, the parish constable was generally unarmed, unpaid, and part-time.

Question 6

Shire reeves

Answer 6

Precursors to sheriffs

Question 7

Sheriffs

Answer 7

Early policing agents who were charged to pursue and apprehend criminals at great personal financial expense.

Question 8

Watchmen

Answer 8

Used to protect property in England’s larger cities and towns, and in colonial America. These individuals patrolled at night to protect the community from robberies, fires, and other disturbances.

Question 9

Thief takers

Answer 9

Men hired by victims to capture criminal offenders. Once an offender was captured, the thief taker was paid a bounty. Often these individuals were very corrupt.

Question 10

Metropolitan police act of 1829

Answer 10

An act introduced by Sir Robert Peel, which established London’s Metropolitan Police Force. This is considered the beginning of modern public policing.

Question 11

Bobbies

Answer 11

Nicknames of officers in Britain named for Sir Robert Peel. Bobbies replaced the existing (and generally corrupt) system of parish constables and night watchmen.

Question 12

Peelers

Answer 12

Nickname of officers in Ireland named for Sir Robert Peel. Peelers replaced the existing (and generally corrupt) system of parish constables and night watchmen.

Question 13

Peelian principles

Answer 13

Widely cited list that described Sir Robert Peel’s philosophy of an ethical police force. Research shows that these excellent principles were never provided by Peel.

Question 14

Vigilantes

Answer 14

Self-appointed distributors of justice according to their own rules.

Question 15

Slave patrol

Answer 15

Policing group that originated in 1704 in South Carolina and consisted of a group of three to six White men who regulated the behavior of slaves and hunted down and punished escaped slaves.

Question 16

Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

Answer 16

A law passed by the U.S. Congress that addressed fears of a “slave power conspiracy” as the number of slaves grew. This law created the need for slave patrols, which became the purview of police officers.

Question 17

Third degree

Answer 17

Early (now outlawed) method used by police officers that included brutalizing an individual to gather information.

Question 18

Modus operandi

Answer 18

A system for solving crimes that facilitated the identification of crime patterns. This system was first implemented by August Vollmer.

Question 19

Police matron

Answer 19

Title frequently given to women who worked in the early days of policing.

Question 20

Literacy tests

Answer 20

Tests used to deny African Americans the right to vote.

Question 21

Covered jurisdictions

Answer 21

Prior to 2013, states, cities, or counties that were required to submit proposed voting changes to the U.S. Department of Justice because of their histories of discrimination against minority voters.

Question 22

Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968

Answer 22

An act that established agencies and rules dealing with crime.