History - Crime and Punishment - Early Modern - Reasons for the Bloody Code

1500 - 1700:

Reasons for the Bloody Code:

Crime Rate

• When the Bloody Code was introduced, the crime rate was actually falling
• It was rising in the 1500s but then falling from 1620, it was introduced in 1688
• Instead it was based off of the perception of crime and the fear in society

Concerns about crime

• Public perceptions and attitudes do not always reflect the reality
• Even if the crime rate was falling there were many things making people believe it was rising
• Pamphlets spread fear by exagerrating the horrible details of robberies, murders, vagabonds and witchcraft
• Executions happened in public whihc publicised crime further
• The final words of the execution victims were published for all to read
• This told the public crime was out of control even if it wasn't

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