- Tithing
- A group of ten households collectively responsible for the behaviour and production for trial of their members. Medieval community law enforcement.
- Hue and Cry
- The legal obligation for bystanders to pursue and assist in capturing a criminal. Failure to join the hue and cry was itself an offence.
- Trial by Ordeal
- Medieval trial method based on physical tests believed to reveal God's judgement — hot iron, cold water, combat. Banned by the Church in 1215.
- Bloody Code
- The body of English law by the 18th century that made over 220 offences punishable by death, including minor property crimes. Declined from 1823.
- Transportation
- Punishment by sending convicted criminals to the American colonies or Australia. Alternative to execution. Over 160,000 transported to Australia 1788-1868.
- Separate System
- 19th-century prison regime (e.g. Pentonville 1842) using solitary confinement to encourage reflection and moral reformation. Often drove prisoners insane.
- Metropolitan Police
- World's first professional police force, established by Robert Peel in 1829. Focused on crime prevention as well as detection. Officers called "bobbies" or "peelers".
- Rehabilitation
- The idea that punishment should reform offenders and help them return to society — contrasted with retribution (punishment as deserved suffering) and deterrence (punishment to frighten others).
This definitions covers Key Terms You Must Know within Crime and Punishment, c.1250-present for GCSE History. Revise Crime and Punishment, c.1250-present in Component Group 1 — Thematic Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 11 of 16 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Practice questions for Crime and Punishment, c.1250-present
Describe two features of law enforcement in medieval England.
Describe two features of punishments under the Bloody Code.
Quick recall flashcards
What was the Bloody Code?
The body of English law from c.1688 to the 1820s-1830s that made over 220 offences punishable by death, including minor property crimes (e.g. stealing more than 1 shilling from a shop). Designed to deter crime through extreme punishment.
What was the 'hue and cry'?
The legal duty of bystanders to shout out and physically pursue a criminal when a crime was witnessed. Failure to join the hue and cry was itself an offence. Reflected the absence of a professional police force — the community was the law enforcement.