Crime and Punishment | Roman Britian - Society, Law, Crime, Punishments and Law Enforcement

Created by: samantha cassar
Created on: 27-05-13 19:20

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Roman Britian
- Roman Law
  - Roman society may seem different from modern-day Britain, but their laws are familiar
    - The parts of Britain ruled by Rome had one central system of law and law enforcement
    - Laws were written down and displayed so people knew them
    - Suspects were considered innocent until proven guilty in a fair trail in court where evidence had been presented
- Law Enforcement
  - Roman legions were in charge of dealing with riots and disorder
  - People reported a crime to a local centurion - he would decide if it should go to court
  - Victims of crime had to take the suspect to the centurion
  - Very serious crimes were tried by the roman governor of britain
  - Smaller crimes were judged by the roman officials (called magistrates) in local courts
  - Victims of crime had to gather evidence to present to the centurion, then the court
- Roman Society
  - Roman society was hierarchical, patriarchal and unequal
    - Hierarchical
      - The wealthy at the top and slaves at the bottom
    - Patriarchal
      - Women, children and slaves obeyed male head of family
    - Unequal
      - Poverty led to crime. The wealthy had all the power
- Types of Crimes
  - Against property
    - Petty theft
    - selling underweight goods
    - burglary
  - Against the person
    - Street violence
    - murder
  - Against authority
    - plotting against the emperor
    - refusing to conform to the official state religion
- Punishments
  - People were punished according to whether they were man or woman, citizen or non-citizen or slave
  - The death penalty was used often under Roman rule. Punishments include:
    - Flogging and beating
    - repaying the cost of stolen goods
    - cutting off limbs
    - being sent into exile
    - being forced to become a gladiator
    - Execution
      - crucifixion
      - being thrown to the lions