Crime and punishment in Elizabeth I Era

Discussion

When Elizabeth I inherited the throne in 1558; she also inherited the judicial system. Locking up someone for a crime he committed was a relatively new idea for that time and most prisons were only used to detain people until their trial or their sentence to death. Then the trials were turned in favor of plaintiffs. For example, accused of crimes were not allowed to have a lawyer. Justice was always fast and often cruel. It was often enough that the accused charged for the crime and tortured; also the chances for the fair trial were really low.

At that time, in small towns, justice was rendered by the magistrate. Most crimes at that time were simply the reason for poverty. Each city was responsible for poverty and lack of employment, and the magistrate was authorized to collect taxes on those who owned land in the villages.

Nobility

Elizabethan England was divided into several classes the first being the nobility. The punishment varies depending on the class to which the accused belonged. When the nobility was well educated, healthy and associated with royalty and senior clergy, and as they were often associated with political intrigues and affairs of religion. The nobility could also be associated with the crimes they were exclusively reserved. The crimes that are found most often associated with this class were:

- High treason.

- Blasphemy.

- Revolt.

- Espionage.

- Rebellion.

- Murder.

- Witchcraft.

- Alchemy.

The noble at that time were the only one, who escaped the torture due to their class.

The Courtiers

For them, torture was often used in obtaining a confession of crime. Even women were not escape under the pretext that they were women and even they were also given severe punishment during this period. The instruments that used for torture were:

- The bridge: It was a wooden board, ...