The Norman system of punishment relied heavily on a mixture of physical punishments, fines and execution. The Normans did end the system of wergild and fines now went to the king's officials. The king centralised law enforcement and extended his authority in crime and punishment.

The Norman law system was founded on the idea that all people should expect to be safe from crime, and to live peacefully within their communities, under the authority of the king. This idea is known as the king's mund.

Crime interrupted the king's mund. Therefore, there was an increase in crimes that were punishable by death or mutilation. In the Forest Laws, poaching carried the death penalty. Considering it was seen as a social crime, many people thought the punishment was unjust.

Mutilation was an alternative to the death penalty sometimes. This might include branding or chopping off a body part.