Crime and punishment
GCSE crime and punishment module - BY MEGAN BAILEY 10R
**NOTE**
______________Roman Empire______________
Viglis
These people are officers who patrol the streets of Rome.They helped stop fighting, prevent crimes such as fires, and caught runaway slaves. There are 7000 viglis in total.
Urban Cohorts
The main job for these soldiers would be to keep order by stopping riots. They didn't patrol the streets. There were 3000 in total
Praetorian Guard
Crimes
Arson, mess in the street outside your home, selling bread at less than the weight promised, fighting in gangs...as well as the usual theft and murder
These will all be treated in their own way depending on how bad the crime is.
Punishments
Often harsh and violent! With no effective police force, the Romans had to use punishments such as crucifixion, amputation and whipping to act as a deterrence (making people think twice about committing crime, therefore preventing it).
Justice
If you were caught doing a crime or rebelling in the streets then you will have to do the time for your bad decisions. Here are some examples of justice you would have to face some major and minor punishments according to your crime. Some include:
- Burning
- Beheading
- Hanging
- beating
- Fed to the animals (lions, Black panthers, Leopards, Bulls)
- whipped/lashed
However, Romans couldn't sentence anyone to death unless found guilty of treason. Strict punishment was generally only enforced on the criminals of lower class. Slaves costed money so their punishments didn't impose lasting damage.
For crimes like burglary, citizens were expected to catch the criminal and bring him to a judge; they would then decide on the case. For more serious crimes, a jury would decide guilt. Under any Roman law, any citizen could bring a case to court.