871349
The Bloody Code
- Was gradually introduced between 1500- 1750
- The upper/ middle classes enforced laws that protected their interests and property
- The upper/ middle classes enforced laws that protected their interests and property
- Death penalty increasingly used with the introduction to the Black Act in 1723
- but juries willing to convict did not want people to hang
- 1714 Transportation act= more transportations
- 1714 Transportation act= more transportations
- but juries willing to convict did not want people to hang
- Because there was no professional police force or prison system, the authorities relied
more and more on harsh physical punishments to maintain law and order and to protect
property rights - known as Bloody Code
- Highway Robbery, poaching and smuggling all became 'capital punishments under the bloody code
- Medieval punishments continued in the Early Modern period:
- Physical- Whipping and mutilation
- Humiliation - Stocks and pillory
- Fines
- Hanging,drawing and quartered for treason (not for nobles)
- Physical- Whipping and mutilation
- Success or Failure?
- Failure:
- Public executions were no longer effective. They were supposed to
deter people from crime but often became a day out for families
- Judges and juries were unwilling to convict people
for minor offences because the punishment was
harsh and unfair
- around 30% of accused people were acquitted
- around 30% of accused people were acquitted
- Transportation was used as an alternative
- Some criminals showed
no remorse or 'died game'
- Public executions were no longer effective. They were supposed to
deter people from crime but often became a day out for families
- Success:
- It acted as a deterrent e.g. highway
robbery declined by the 18th century
- The media increased the fear of crime and the
introduction of bloody code reduced this fear
- Helped protect property
- Removed the criminal
- It acted as a deterrent e.g. highway
robbery declined by the 18th century
- Failure:
- Had a limited impact however as the number of executions
seemed to have fallen rather than rise despite more crimes being
punishable by death
- anyone who showed remorse or regret was likely to be let off hanging
- Many were pardoned or let off because witnesses spoke about their good character in trials
- Many were pardoned or let off because witnesses spoke about their good character in trials
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