Fleischman SOC 3344 EARLY LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME LINE

Development of Laws 1704-1662 bc Code of Hammarabi ca 1500 bc Egypt sophisticated laws and court system ca 1400 bc Marine patrol

965-925 bc Ancient Hebrews influenced the development of law enforcement - following the death of “King Solomon” the Hebrew people meticulously prescribed community conduct and administered savage punishment of offenders - the laws were based on a monotheism and the Ten Commandments - (Torah and Pentatuch and later less severe laws were prescribed in the Talmud) 639-559 bc Solon (The Law Giver) Devised a legal system in Athens which applied laws in a democratic manner - Law enforcement was the responsibility of the military. Greeks used “kin ” in which the victim’s family would be empowered to bring the wrong-doer before the magistrate - resulted in wide spread lawlessness and resulted in the need for police and a large security force of body guards acting a the police. Body guards were widely used as police throughout much of the early history of Greece

Sparta - first secret police created under the rule of Ephori

451 bc Rome - citizens and conqured peoples were ruled by laws provided within the Twelve Tablets which were instituted in and enforced by the Roman army

Strong kinship lines where rigid distinctions were made between domestic and civil responsibilities. Roman families were patriarchal, headed by pater familias - had absolute authority over his family and all property associated with the family. First allegiance owed to the family - if a roman was convicted of a it was the family who would impose punishment - not the government.

27 bc Augustus - began a movement that continued for some 500 years in which the state, through the emperor came to dominate all aspects of Roman life - Created the Praetorian Guard (7000 soldiers) within the City of Rome. The guard watched the outer perimeters of the city for criminals and invading armies. Thus the concept of a dedicated “police force” had its origins. quaestores - worked for magistrates and had arrest powers. Vigiles - also served as watchmen and were responsible for both police and firefighting duties.

Fall of Roman Empire & Middle Ages After over 4000 years of legal development, the centralized style of government required for successful maintenance of law and order ended with the fall of the Roman Empire - the era that followed is known as the Middle Ages

Medieval Times The feudal system was developed as a means to restore social order. It was built on the premise of mutual responsibility. As a rule, however, feudal lords administered justice to those under their control as they deemed necessary.

The church also placed a role in determining what constituted a criminal violation as well as how the infraction was to be arbitrated. Neither the feudal lords nor the churches answered to a central authority.

1100 -1200s As the 12th and 13th centuries unfolded, kings began to assume responsibility for administration of law and to maintain officials for that purpose.

1100's 12th century Scandinavia the gjaldkere was given administrative responsibility of towns which included responsibility for law and order - their counterparts, the lensman, enforced the law and collected taxes.

1200s In the 13th century in Paris, Louis IX created a provost who, assisted by investigating commissioners and sergeants, directed the night watch and commanded a mounted guard. This was the beginning of the Marechausee, which became the Gendarmerie that today police the areas outside of major towns.

1200's (13th Century England) placed limitations on and bailiffs - possibly to control police abuse of power and to ensure the maintenance of order.

Development of Police in England

1100's 12th Century Norman Kings appointed sheriffs

Frankenpledge - all males over 12 years of age were called upon as needed to protect their neighbors from thieves and outlaws.

tithings - collectives of 10 families expected to police their own trivial problems

- when trouble erupted townsman was to summon help

hundreds - 10 tithings (100 families) organized and were supervised by a who may be considered the first true law enforcement officers and had responsibility for more serious infractions.

shires - hundreds were grouped together into shires or and supervised by a reeves or a shire-reeves

sheriffs - the title given to the shire-reeves, developed the to require aid from citizens whenever necessary

1200's 13th Century the night watch emerged in urban areas to patrol the late-night streets - this was the system that represented the earliest form of metropolitan policing. This structure was called the Watch and Ward ( 1285) which replaced the Frankenpledge system.

Watchmen - usually constituents of local church parishes, patrolled the streets from dusk till dawn watching for robbers, thieves, and hooligans, their mission was to rid the streets of wandering strangers and to ensure that “all’s well”

1300's Early 14th Century the Justice of the Peace (1326) developed to assist the shire-reeve in law enforcement - in addition to their duties as peace keepers, the justices of the peace soon adopted judicial duties. Over time the constable began working at the direction of the Justice of the Peace.