Crime and punishment in the later Middle Ages involved a deeper role of the government and a more centralised legal system under Henry II. Henry II made a number of impacts:

Became king in 1154 and introduced important reforms for crime and punishment
1166 - Henry II reorganised courts and established prisons for those accused and waiting for trial (Assize of Clarendon)
He ordered royal judges (Justices in Eyre) to visit each county two times per year to hear the most serious criminal cases
The king had a greater role in matters of legality and centralised control of the court system
Written instructions were given to sheriffs across the country, overall the whole system was more uniform

Change and continuity in crime and law enforcement:

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the repaid growth of towns meant that there were more opportunities for crimes to be committed in small villages. There was a shift away from local communities coping with crimes in their areas towards a systematic approach under government-appointed officials. Older approaches did remain and people continued to apprehend offenders. Towns were divided into wards to help communities for this purpose.

Old Anglo-Saxon practices continued at the local level regarding less serious crimes. Local men known as 'tythingmen' in Saxon times were now known as 'constables'.

New laws and new crimes:

Parliament (gathering of powerful individuals and the king to discuss and bring in new laws):

Statute of Labourers: when the Black Death hit in 1348 about one third of the population of England died as a result of the plague. With far fewer workers available at this time, peasants began to demand higher wages. Ruling classes were anxious that peasants would become more wealthy and powerful (did not want to pay higher wages), therefore, a new law was introduced to protect their concerns
- Statute of Labourers was introduced in 1351
- It established a maximum wage for workers and it became a crime to ask for more than the maximum
- Further, it was illegal to move to a new area to find better paid work
- The Statute of Labourers demonstrated the growing power of parliament, as they passed the law
Heresy: in the 13th and 14th centuries, certain people were questioning the beliefs and practices of the Church. They wanted the Church to be reformed, disagreed over the sacraments, and the translated the Bible into English so the layman could read it. The clergy (workers for the church) felt threatened by these questionings and new ideas. Medieval kings were also keen to support the church.
- Laws against heresy (holding to set of beliefs different from the established religion of the time) were passed in 1382, 1401, and 1414
- People were committed heresy were labelled as heretics; punishment could be severe (burning at the stake introduced in 1401)
- Law introduced in 1414, gave Justice of the Peace powers to arrest suspected heretics
- The government and Church were working together
- If suspects of crimes were found guilty in Church courts, they were taken to secular (non-religious) authorities for their punishment

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The next installment in our series of Crime and Punishment in medieval times. Crime and punishment in the later Middle Ages involved a deeper role of the government and a more centralised legal system under Henry II. Learn more in this detailed study note.

Medieval Ages, the Church and Courts