4.3: English History
- Page ID
- 48194
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)English History
Like most elements of our American criminal justice system the roots of police can be traced back to early England. Of course, there was a time in our history that there was no organized law enforcement available. In the past, citizens would have to rely on one another if a disaster like a fire broke out or thieves came and stole their livestock. Most communities had a method to call out to one another whether it was the ringing of the church bell or someone with a loud voice running down the street and calling out for help. As communities began to grow, it seemed logical that perhaps government should appoint someone to look out for the citizens so they would not just have to rely on themselves.
Constable
One of the early forms of “police officer” around 1066s or earlier was an English Constable. This Constable was supposed to look out over 100 families. The English chose the number 100 as it fit their tything method, or method of governing neighborhoods. Obviously having one person trying to take care of 100 families was a very large task and so the Constable only focused on the most serious offenses. Any type of offense or issue that they deemed not important was just not dealt with at all or it was up to the families to handle it themselves. This early precedent of law enforcement making the decision of what is important or not rather than realizing that it is important to the victim may contribute to some of the problems between police and community members today.
Image 4.2
Shire Reeves
In the more rural areas of England another type of police officer that developed around 1000 A.D., was called the Shire Reeve. In England, the land was often divided up into small areas known as shires. These shires would be similar to our counties. The Shire Reeve was the law enforcement individual in charge of the entire Shire. Later, when we bring this form of law enforcement to America, we will use the term counties instead of shires but we will keep the term Shire Reeve only slurring it a little and turning it into Sheriff. Thus, the Shire Reeve became the precedent for establishing a Sheriffs Department which would provide law enforcement to the entire county primarily focusing on the rural areas.
Watch System
In the more urban areas of England, another type of police officer that developed around the 1300s, was referred to as the Watch System. Under this system individual officers known as night watchmen were supposed to patrol the cities and interact with citizens in a manner similar to our modern-day foot patrols. In the 1300s, the night watchmen would perform various duties such as checking that the doors to establishments were locked at night, lighting the torches that lined the streets, dispensing the drunkards as they left the pub, and helping noble women into their carriages. In general, they try to assist the citizens while maintaining an orderly environment.