Lecture Notes: Crime and Punishment in History

Overview

• The presentation discusses topics relevant to the EdXL GCSE History course, focusing on crime and punishment.
• Resources such as notes, questions, and flashcards are available online for free with account creation.
• The lecture covers historical periods and changes in crime and punishment from Anglo-Saxon England through the early modern period.

Medieval England

Crime and Punishment

• Categories of Crimes: Against person, property, authority.
• Examples:
  • Person: Murder, assault, kidnapping.
  • Property: Theft, burglary, arson.
  • Authority: Treason, rebellion.
• Legal System:
  • Local customs and King's law heavily influenced society.
  • Emphasis on social order and compensation rather than punishment.
• Role of King and Nobility: Creation and enforcement of laws.
• Church's Influence: Moral behavior and trials by ordeal.
• Community Policing: Tithings and hue and cry.
• Punishments: Fines, corporal punishment, capital punishment.

Norman England

Impact of the Norman Conquest

• Changes in Law: Centralized authority, new laws introduced.
• King's Influence: Increased control over legal proceedings.
• Feudal System: Establishment of hierarchy.
• Key Laws: Murdrum fine, curfew law, Forest laws.
• Crime Definitions: Expanded to include social crimes like poaching.

Later Medieval England

Increased Government Role

• Henry II's Reforms: Establishment of royal courts, early prisons, assizes.
• Parliament's Role: Statute of Laborers.
• Law Enforcement Changes: Coroners and Justices of the Peace introduced.
• Punishment Methods: Continuation and expansion of fines, corporal punishment.

The Church's Influence

• Sanctuary and Benefit of Clergy: Legal privileges influencing crime and punishment.
• Ending of Trial by Ordeal: Church's influence and rise of trial by jury.

Early Modern England

Crime and Law Enforcement

• Types of Crimes: Heresy, treason, witchcraft, vagabondage.
• Reformation's Impact: Religious upheaval influenced definitions of crime.
• Law Enforcement: Local community involvement, constables, thief-takers.
• Punishment: Corporal punishment, bloody code, transportation.

Key Events

• Gunpowder Plot: Catholic attempt to overthrow Protestant rule.
• Matthew Hopkins' Witch Hunts: Intensification of witch trials.

18th and 19th Century Britain

Crime Evolution

• New Crimes: Smuggling, highway robbery, poaching.
• Government Response: Law changes and enforcement improvements.
• Legal Reforms: End of witchcraft persecutions, transportation, bloody code.

Policing Changes

• Development of Police Forces: Bow Street Runners, Metropolitan Police.
• Specialization and Technology: Detective Branch, National Crime Records.

Attitudes to Punishment

• Reforms and Abolition: Reduction of capital offenses, end of public executions.
• Prison Reforms: Emphasis on rehabilitation over punishment.
• Influential Reformers: John Howard, Elizabeth Fry.

20th Century Developments

Changes in Crime and Law Enforcement

• Emerging Crimes: Cybercrime, copyright theft.
• Police Reforms: Community-focused strategies, women's role expansion.
• Technological Advances: Fingerprinting, DNA analysis, CCTV.

Non-Custodial Alternatives

• Community Measures: ASBOs, restorative justice, electronic tagging.
• Abolition of Death Penalty: Shift towards humane treatment.

Historical Case Studies

Conscientious Objectors

• WWI and WWII: Treatment and legal provisions for objectors.

Derek Bentley Case

• Significance for Death Penalty Abolition: Public and legal impact.

White Chapel and Policing

• Challenges in Policing: Organization, crime nature, investigative limitations.
• Public Attitudes: Mixed perceptions of police effectiveness.

These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the history of crime and punishment as discussed in the lecture, detailing the evolution of legal systems, societal attitudes, and the impact of historical events.