History - Crime and Punishment - Early Modern - Trials

1500 - 1700

Trials

• Most cases were dealt with locally (same as Middle Ages) but some changes were made to make it more efficient

Courts

• Variety in use and all relied on a local jury
• Manor courts - local, minor crimes e.g. drunkedness
• Justices of Peace - minor crimes but met with other JPs 4 times a year
• At the Quarter sessions JPs would judge more serious cases and even had power to sentence to death
• Royal judges - visited each county…