Crime and Punishment Flashcards

1
Q

What was Wergild?

A

A compensation paid to the victims of a crime or their families.

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2
Q

What time period did Wergild exist?

A

Anglo Saxon

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3
Q

What was the purpose of Wergild?

A

To avoid blood feuds

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4
Q

What was corporal punishment?

A

A range of punishments that caused harm or pain to the body - including being beaten.

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5
Q

Give examples of Corporal Punishment

A

Stocks And Pillory

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6
Q

What was the purpose of corporal punishment?

A
  • To act as a deterrent
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7
Q

What change was made to Wergild fine by William I?

A

Fines were now paid to the King’s officials

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8
Q

Why did William I make changes to the Wergild fine?

A

To increased the centralisation of law enforcement and extend the control of the King.

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9
Q

In what time period was Hung Drawn and Quartering introduced as a punishment?

A

Late Medieval Period

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10
Q

What crime would result in the criminal being hung@drawn and quartered?

A

High Treason

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11
Q

Describe the punishment of Hung@ Drawn and Quartered

A

The criminal would be semi-strangled@ revived@ his abdomen cut open and intestines drawn out

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12
Q

Why did treason always see capital punishment throughout the medieval period?

A

The King was the most powerful person in the country@ betraying him would’ve been seen as the worst possible crime a person could commit therefore the only rightful punishment would be death.

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13
Q

Explain why Normans made changes to crime and punishments after the Norman Conquest

A

Establish Control - Forest Laws - Symbol of Dominance

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14
Q

What was the main purpose of prisons in the Early Modern Period?

A

It wasn’t necessarily a punishment in it’s own right; it was more like a holding cell.

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15
Q

State the punishments for vagabondage in the Early Modern Period

A
  • Whipping
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16
Q

In what year was the vagrancy act put into place?

A

1547

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17
Q

Give an example of a purpose-built prison in the Early Modern Period

A

Bridewell prisons which were built specifically to hold the poor

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18
Q

Describe the Bloody Code

A

This was the increase in the amount of crimes that were punishable by the death penalty. This number has risen to 50 by 1688 and further to 160 by 1765.

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19
Q

Why did law makers introduce the bloody code?

A
  • People were worried about the rate of crime
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20
Q

Where would prisoners have been transported to in the Early Modern Period?

A

North America

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21
Q

How many years could someone be transported as an alternative to execution?

A

14 years

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22
Q

What were the economic benefits of Transportation to America?

A

England wanted to establish permanent colonies in North America and convicts could be used to populate and provide manpower

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23
Q

How did Transportation to North America act as retribution?

A

Criminals were sent away to America deliberately to separate criminals and their families

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24
Q

Who introduced transportation?

A

James I

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25
Q

Why was there a decrease in the death penalty in the Industrial Period?

A
  • Hanging was not seen as an effective deterrent
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26
Q

Why was there a decrease in public executions in the industrial period?

A
  • People thought that those being put to death should have more dignity
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27
Q

Summarize the aims/goals of the Gunpowder plot

A

It aimed to set off an explosion to kill the King and those close to him at the state opening of the parliament. They wanted to replace James I with his daughter

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28
Q

Why did the gunpowder plot fail?

A

Lord Monteagle received a warning not to attend@ which he extended to Robert Cecil@ the King’s spymaster.

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29
Q

What was burning mainly used as a punishment for?

A

Heresy

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30
Q

What was the rack?

A

A wooden frame that would stretch the limbs@ forcing them apart at the joints

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31
Q

What was the punishment for the conspirators of the gunpowder plot?

A

Torture and Hung@ Drawn and Quartering

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32
Q

What were some consequences of the Gunpowder plot?

A
  • Encouraged Anti-Catholic attitudes by the ‘Kingsbook’ with uncovered the plot
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33
Q

How did transportation change after 1783?

A

England lost colonies as a result of American Independance so could no longer transport prisoners there. They started transporting to Australia

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34
Q

Why did transportation to Australia end by 1868?

A

Australia was now an attractive place to go and they didn’t want criminals

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35
Q

Who were the 2 main prison reformers?

A

Elizabeth Fry

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36
Q

What did the Gaols act of 1823 state prisons should be like?

A
  • Prisoners should receive regular visits from prison chaplains
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37
Q

When was Pentonville prison built?

A

1842

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38
Q

Describe the conditions of Pentonville Prison

A
  • Walls were thick to present prisoners from communicating between cels
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39
Q

What were the strengths of Pentonville Prison?

A

Compared to previous prisons@ it was clean and there was far less disease

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40
Q

What were the weaknesses of Pentonville Prison?

A

The continuous isolation led to mental health issues and high rates of suicide

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41
Q

What reformer played a huge part in the 1823 Gaols act but was critiscised for being too lenient?

A

Elizabeth Fry

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42
Q

What reformer@ whilst Sheriff of Bedfordshire@ inspected prisons and was shocked by what they found?

A

John Howard

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43
Q

Describe Elizabeth Fry’s role in prison reforms

A
  • She visited women in Newgate prison and was shocked to find 300 women and children crammed into 3 prisons
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44
Q

Describe John Howard’s role in prison reforms

A

In 1777@ they published a report: The State of Prisons in England and Wales after vising other prisons which highlighted problems with the old prison system@ especially the fees prisoners had to pay.

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45
Q

What year was solitary confinement ended?

A

1922

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46
Q

Why was solitary confinement ended?

A

It was gradually thought to be inhumane and did not encourage rehab

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47
Q

When was the first open prison opened and what did it allow prisoners to do?

A

The first open prison was opened in 1934 and allowed prisoners to leave during the day to work

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48
Q

What was abolished in 1902?

A

The hard labour and the crank in prisons

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49
Q

Why was the death penalty abolished in 1965?

A
  • There was shift from retribution to rehabilitation
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50
Q

Explain how COs were treated in WW1

A

Some COs and their families were isolated by friends and neighbors

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51
Q

Why were attitudes towards COs more lenient in WW2?

A

They couldn’t be punished too harshly as the government would’ve been seen as hypocritical since they were criticizing Hitler’s treatment of his people

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52
Q

During WW1@ how many men were COs?

A

16@500

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53
Q

How were COs punished in WW1?

A

6000 COs were imprisoned. They were held in front of a tribunal who would decide their fate.

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54
Q

When did transportation and public execution end?

A

1868

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55
Q

In what year was the last use of the death penalty?

A

1964

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56
Q

Describe crimes against authority

A

Betraying your king/lord

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57
Q

Describe crimes against property

A

Crimes like theft@ robbery and arson that involved taking or damaging something that belongs to someone else

58
Q

What was a moral crime?

A

Actions that were frowned upon by society

59
Q

What was the murdrum?

A

It held everyone in the hundred reponsible for the death of a Norman

60
Q

Why was the murdrum fine introduced?

A

To establish Norman control by making murdering a Norman severely punishable

61
Q

What was the Statute of Laborers?

A

It became a crime after the black death to ask for more money as a worker now that there were much less people.

62
Q

Why was the Statute of labourers introduced?

A

The upper class were worried about the lower class becoming more rich and powerful

63
Q

Why was treason considered the highest crime throughout the medieval period?

A

The King remained very powerful

64
Q

What was the forest laws?

A

30% of land would now be protected Royal Forests@ controlled by the new forest laws. Breaking any forest rules@ poaching animals or damaging vegeation was punishable.

65
Q

Why were the forest laws created?

A

It was a symbol of William I’s dominance

66
Q

What was heresy?

A

beliefs that opposed the official teachings of the church

67
Q

In what period heresy become a crime?

A

Late Medieval Period

68
Q

Why did heresy become a crime?

A

To protect the Church

69
Q

Describe the main differences between Catholic and Protestant Beliefs

A

Catholics thought that the Pope was the head of the Church@ the bible services should be in Latin and that churches should be colorful and lavish.

70
Q

How did heresy and treason become interlinked?

A

All monarchs from Henry VII onward@ besides Mary I@ were head of the Church of England. Opposing the monarch now meant you were opposing God.

71
Q

What monarch wanted to create a middle way between the two religions?

A

Queen Elizabeth I

72
Q

What religion was Oliver Cromwell?

A

Puritan (extreme Protestant)

73
Q

What religious changes did Oliver Cromwell make?

A

He made activities and entertainment illegal

74
Q

Why did vagabondage become a crime in 1500-1700?

A

More and more people were moving out villages and into towns looking for work; they became beggars@ tramps and vagrants.

75
Q

Why were there changing definitions of heresy in the period 1500-1700?

A

The definition of heresy changed continuously due to the constant changing of established beliefs as the monarch changed.

76
Q

Why did smuggling become a crime 1500-1700?

A

Economic Reasons

77
Q

Describe the rise of poaching in the period 1500-1700

A

The 18th century enclosure movement meant many small farmers lost their land which also meant their food supply. They saw poaching as a remedy to which they were entitled

78
Q

What was the attitude towards witches in the years 1500-1700?

A
  • People of all backgrounds believed in witches
79
Q

What was it hard to catch a poacher?

A

Neighbours wouldn’t report poachers since the law was seen as unfair

80
Q

By the end of the Early Modern Period@ what was the attitude towards witchcraft?

A

They were seen as foolish and muddled; trickers trying to take advantage of others

81
Q

Explain why there was a rise in accusations of witchcraft

A
  • Religion was an important part of life. After Henry VIII led the break from the Catholic Church@ people feared the old religion and decided to cleanse society
82
Q

What was the role of Matthew Hopkins in the Witch Hunt?

A

The witchfinder general@ was a witch hunter in 1645. He ensured ‘witches’ gave him a list of other ‘witches’ that he could try.

83
Q

Why did witchcraft accusations decline?

A
  • People demanded clearer evidence
84
Q

Why did smuggling become more problematic in the industrial period? (give examples)

A

Smugglers started to work in gang. For example@ Hawkhurst Gang controlled smuggling around long stretches of the South Coast

85
Q

What were society’s view towards smuggling?

A

Many people benefitted from the cheapers good and didn’t see it as a crime

86
Q

What problems did the authorities have in stopping smuggling?

A

Smugglers would’ve often worked at night@ hiding in coves.

87
Q

When did this happen?

A

It become much less profitable as import duties were reduced in the 1780s then against in the 19th century.

88
Q

Why did Poaching become more problematic in the Industrial period?

A

There was a rise in large scale gangs@ similar to smuggling

89
Q

What were society’s view towards poaching?

A

The laws were heavily resented because they were viewed as unfair.

90
Q

Why did poaching eventually decline?

A
  • Harsh punishments
91
Q

Why did the death penalty result in the decrease of highway robbery?

A

The capital punishment acted as a deterrent thus less people would commit the crime.

92
Q

Why did the problem of highway robbery increase in the industrial period?

A
  • Increased wealth and trade meant that people carried large sums of valuables and cash.
93
Q

Who were the tolpuddle martyrs?

A

A group of farmers in 1834 who were transported to Australia for creating a trades union

94
Q

Why were the Tolpuddle Martyrs arrested?

A

The authoritise were threatened by a union as they felt the union would interfere with the way they run their business. They were arrested for taking illegal oaths.

95
Q

Why did the tolpuddle martyrs not serve their full sentences?

A

People were outraged at their imprisonment and campaigned to get them back. Public opinion heavily influenced authorities.

96
Q

What was the attitude towards Domestic Violence in the 19th century?

A

The common view in soceity was that men were the dominant partners; if they were violent towards their partners it was their business and the authorities had no business interfering.

97
Q

What was the attitude towards Domestic Violence in the 20th century?

A

The attitude was changing. Women had gained a more valued place in society after WW1 and WW2 and they now had the right to vote. Society wanted equality so significant new laws were created

98
Q

When was the Domestic Violence act passed? What did it say?

A

The domestic violence act was passed in 1976.

99
Q

What was illegal before 1967 and how was this crime carried out?

A

Terminating a pregnancy was illegal; if a woman wanted to end a pregnancy she’d resort to a ‘backstreet abortion’ from someone untrained

100
Q

What led to a change in the laws about abortion?

A

Growing liberalisation of attitudes in the 1960s led to protests

101
Q

Why was a new law needed for race crimes?

A

In the 1950s@ many people from from commonwealth countries moved to Britain for work.

102
Q

When was the Race Relations Act put into place? How was it extended in 2006?

A

In 1968@ the Race Relations Act made it illegal to refuse someone jobs/housing/services on basis of their race.

103
Q

What act decriminalized homosexuality? In what year?

A

In 1967@ the sexual offences act decriminalised for men over 21 due to growing liberal attitudes.

104
Q

When was homophobia made illegal?

A

2005

105
Q

Describe 3 old crimes that have new opportunities in Modern Britain

A
  • In the 18th century@ organised smuggling criminal gangs smuggled goods into the country to avoid import duties. Now@ drug smuggling is a multi-million pound industry.
106
Q

Define the Kings Peace

A
  • It was the Kings duty to maintain law and order throughout the country - this was effective because the king was very powerful and people felt they were safe.
107
Q

What was the hue and cry?

A

System of catching criminals that meant everyone had a duty to raise the alarm if they saw a crime taking place.

108
Q

Why was the hue and cry so effective?

A

Ignoring a hue and cry could lead to fines - everyone was expected to help out and capture suspects

109
Q

Why were the changes to law enforcement in the Medieval period?

A
  • Normanise England - Trial by Combat
110
Q

In what year did the Pope end all trial by ordeal?

A

1215

111
Q

What replaced trial by ordeal?

A

Trial by Jury

112
Q

Define a tithing

A

Group of 10 men who were each responsible for each other’s behaviour

113
Q

Describe the benefit of the clergy

A

This was where members of the clergy could only be tried in Church courts; which would often be more lenient.

114
Q

Define trial by ordeal

A

This trial tested whether the accused was innocent or guilty in the eyes of God. Religion had a crucial part to play in medieval lifestyle so God’s decision was seen to be final

115
Q

Describe trial by hot iron

A

The accused would hold a hot iron and walk for 3m. If after 3 days; the wound had healed they were innocent. If it had not healed; they were guilty.

116
Q

Describe trial by cold water

A

The accused were be lowered into cold water. If they sank; they would be seen as innocent whereas if they floated it would’ve been as they were being rejected by the water; so they were guilty.

117
Q

Why were oaths important in the Anglo-Saxon period?

A

Oaths were very effective and are still used today. People feared life after death; they feared God. They wouldn’t dare lying under oath for fear of going to hell.

118
Q

What were some problems facing law enforcement in the Early Modern period?

A
  • Increased wealth meant more valuable goods
119
Q

Describe a Night Watchmen

A
  • Volunteers (men) who would patrol the local area after dark with a lamp and ringing a bell
120
Q

Describe the role of a Town Constable

A

Man appointed by local people to oversee law; stop suspected criminals and turn them in at court

121
Q

Describe the role of a Thief Taker

A

Essentially a bounty hunter; paid a reward for catching a criminal and delivering them to the law

122
Q

Describe the roles of coroners and justices of peace

A

Coroners would’ve investigated unexpected deaths. JPs had the right to fine and arrest people who disturbed peace

123
Q

What was established in 1748?

A

The Bow Street Runners

124
Q

Who were the Bow Street Runners?

A

A team of thief takers who patrolled the streets of London at night. They also investigated crimes and presented evidence at court - they charged fees.

125
Q

What did the Bow Street Runners introduce to stop highway men?

A

Mounted horse patrols

126
Q

In what year were the Bow Street Runners officially paid by the government?

A

1785

127
Q

What did Robert Peel set up in 1829?

A

The Metropolitan Police Force

128
Q

Describe what a metropolitan policemen looked like

A

They wore long blue coats and strengthened tall hats which protected them from blows to the head whilst also could be used to stand on to look over walls.

129
Q

When was the first the first detective Branch established at Scotland Yard?

A

1842

130
Q

Why did the public not take kindly to detectives?

A

They were seen as spies on the public

131
Q

What did the 1856 Police Act say?

A

It was now compulsory for all towns and counties to set up a professional police force that was centrally controlled

132
Q

When was the first Dog Handling unit introduced?

A

1938

133
Q

What was the Neighbourhood watch?

A

This was where police in schools and police community support officers work within the community on preventing anti-social behaviour

134
Q

How does CCTV and video surveillance prevent crimes?

A

People are less likely to commit a crime if they know they’re being watched

135
Q

When was the 999 emergency dial introduced?

A

1933

136
Q

What advancement was made in the 1920s to the police force?

A

Women were allowed to join

137
Q

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Bow Street Runners

A

Effective:

138
Q

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Metropolitan Police in 1828

A

Effective:

139
Q

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Night Watchmen

A

Effective:

140
Q

Evaluate the effectiveness of Thief Takers

A

Effective: