Law enforcement and punishment Flashcards
Did the role of witnesses to crimes change?
No,witnesses were still expected to attempt to stop suspects or report them to authorities
Did the role of town constables change?
Yes, their role expanded
Why were crimes like theft and fraud more common in towns and cities?
Life was more anonymous and it was harder to catch criminals and not everyone knew each other
Who were watchmen?
They were unpaid volunteers who also had to do their normal day jobs to earn a living
What was the role of town constables?
They helped with local administrative issues like collecting payments for road cleaning
Who were thief takers?
Constables and watchmen were not particularly effective at hunting down criminals so victims resorted to using thief takers. They were paid a reward for catching a criminal and taking them to the law
How was the concept of thief takers flawed?
Some criminals pretended to be thief takers and they were able to inform on rival gangs in order to make money
Who was Jonathan Wild?
He was the most infamous thief taker. He secretly led a gang of thieves who claimed rewards when they handed in stolen goods.
What was the punishment for not going to church in the 16th century?
Fines
What was the punishment for begging drunkenness?
Pillory or stocks- the purpose of this was for public humiliation and to act as a deterrent
What was the punishment for highway robbery?
Hanging,drawing and quartering
What was the Bloody Code?
During the 17th century,the number of crimes that carried the death penalty increased.
How many capital crimes were there by 1688?
50
Could criminals receive a pardon?
Yes,if they could prove their previous good character or give other reasons why they should not be executed
What was ‘Plead for belly’?
Pregnant women could ask to be allowed to live until after the baby was born
