Law and Sentencing.
Throughout the middle ages it was believed that the only way to keep order was to make sure that the people were scared of the punishments given for the crimes committed. For this reason all crimes from stealing to murder had very harsh punishments.
Although there were gaols, they were generally used to hold a prisoner awaiting trial rather than as a means of punishment. Fines, shaming (being placed in stocks), mutilation (cutting off a part of the body) or death were the most common forms of punishment.
There was no police in the middle ages so law-enforcement was in the hands of the community.
The jury was made up of twelve men who were chosen by the villagers. The jury’s job was to collect evidence and decide whether the accused was guilty or not guilty, and if found guilty, what the punishment would be.
Criminals were considered as people who disturbed the king's peace. If the crime committed was only a minor crime, then the lords had authority to punish the offenders in their local court houses.
The sheriff/police was in charge of keeping the criminal under lock and key until their trail. Criminals relied on friends and family to bring them food and other necessities. Otherwise the accused would starve to death.
The jails back in the Middle Ages were filthy. If criminals were jailed for a long time, they would die from disease and possible starvation.
Crimes in middle ages were servile punished, crimes like stealing, murdering and treason were punishable by death. Lesser crimes however were punishable by humiliation at the stocks and fine.
Throughout the middle ages it was believed that the only way to keep order was to make sure that the people were scared of the punishments given for the crimes committed. For this reason all crimes from stealing to murder had very harsh punishments.
Although there were gaols, they were generally used to hold a prisoner awaiting trial rather than as a means of punishment. Fines, shaming (being placed in stocks), mutilation (cutting off a part of the body) or death were the most common forms of punishment.
There was no police in the middle ages so law-enforcement was in the hands of the community.
The jury was made up of twelve men who were chosen by the villagers. The jury’s job was to collect evidence and decide whether the accused was guilty or not guilty, and if found guilty, what the punishment would be.
Criminals were considered as people who disturbed the king's peace. If the crime committed was only a minor crime, then the lords had authority to punish the offenders in their local court houses.
The sheriff/police was in charge of keeping the criminal under lock and key until their trail. Criminals relied on friends and family to bring them food and other necessities. Otherwise the accused would starve to death.
The jails back in the Middle Ages were filthy. If criminals were jailed for a long time, they would die from disease and possible starvation.
Crimes in middle ages were servile punished, crimes like stealing, murdering and treason were punishable by death. Lesser crimes however were punishable by humiliation at the stocks and fine.