History of Criminal Justice

The history of criminal justice in the world spans thousands of years and now computer users can locate extensive resources on the evolution of various legal practices via the World Wide Web. The best places to begin a virtual journey into the development of legal establishments are sites that discuss Greek, Roman, and other ancient and medieval law systems. From there, interested parties can traverse to Web sites that cover the evolution of codes of law in modern day Europe and their subsequent growth in the United States. This section features various online resources on history of the criminal justice system and history of law enforcement by governments in ancient times.


Internet Legal Resource Guide
Check Internet Legal Resource Guide for a resource pertaining to law, including law firms, research tools, and law journals.

Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma: Criminal Justice History Resources
Check Northeastern State University for information on this collection of links relating to criminal justice in Europe and the United States.

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands: The Petition of Right: 1628
Check Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands for information on this petition from the House of Commons to Charles I, with related links.

University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom: Roman Law Resources
Check University of Aberdeen, Scotland for information on materials related to Roman law, including links to primary sources, and historian directory.

University of Evansville, Indiana: Hammurabi's Code of Laws
Check University of Evansville, Indiana for information on Babylonian law codes developed during the reign of Hammurabi, translated by L.W. King.

University of Saarbrucken, Germany: Ius Romanum
Check University of Saarbrucken, Germany for information on Roman law, including mailing list, index, and resources.

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Law School: Constitutions of Clarendon
Check Yale University for edicts issues by King Henry II, defining the relationship between the church and state in England.

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Law School: English Bill of Rights 1689
Browse Yale University for information on an act presented to Parliament by William III and Mary II in 1689.

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Law School: Laws of William the Conqueror
Check Yale University for information on laws established after William’s conquest of England in 1066.

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Law School: The Avalon Project at the Yale Law School
Check Yale University for information on this extensive collection of primary documents from law, history, economics, and more.
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