SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Vise, Spiritualism, Roman Law
14 Jan 2013
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Spiritual view of the world was closely tied to the origin and development of the modern criminal justice system. Europe in middle ages, crime was a private affair where victim/victims family obtained revenge by inflicting similar or great harm on offender/offenders family. The feudal lords instituted methods by which god could indicate who was innocent or guilty. Trial by battle both parties would sear to the truth and then fight each other, god would give victory to the righteous person defeating the one who had sworn to a false oath. Great warriors would always win therefore they could commit as many crimes as they wanted to. Trial by ordeal the accused was subjected to difficult and painful tests, an innocent person would emerge unharmed and a guilty person would die a painful death. Ie throw a witch into water that was blessed, if she sank she was innocent and if she floated she was guilty.
