Historical Development of Law Enforcement Essay -- essays research pap

Since 27 B.C. law enforcement has been used by humans as a means to defend property and keep peace. Law enforcement has been ever-changing ever since it was created. It will keep changing for the greater good of the community as long is there is a continual need for law enforcement. fit in to REAL POLICE. (N.D.) Para 5, the first organized police force was created by the great nephew of Julius Caesar, Gaius Octavius in 27 B.C. These men were called Vigiles. The Vigiles were armed with wooden clubs and small swords. They were make to perform two duties, fight fires in the city and arrest law breakers. The prefect of the Vigiles became a powerful man. He had the ability to judge and sentence lawbreakers. In 1200 A.D., incline law enforcement evolved into agents called bailiffs. These men were the original peace keepers. They stood shadow watches to spot thieves and fires. The bailiffs were non tasked with crime prevention, but merely to alert the sleeping public and c reate a posse to deal with any situation. They worked by staying in one place, a post, and listening for cries of distress from the public. If a watchword was heard, the bailiff would bang on every admission he could to gather up the townspeople. Once a posse was formed, it would search the city for the law violator. Once the violator was found, a fair trial was not offered. The posses would usually beat or kill the person it suspected committed the crime. This process of gathering the townspeople to punish a crime was called the hue and cry method (Schmalleger, 2005).In the 1600s, American colonies used a law enforcement system like Englands. The colonies used the hue and cry method along with a night watch (bailiff). The mid 1600s slight improvements ... ... Local law enforcement, known as municipal law, has the largest number of employees. Local law also has the largest amount of precincts. In 2000, 12,666 police departments employed 566,000 people. Local law enforceme nt is made up of police officers you see on a daily basis driving around town. Schmalleger (2005). oft has changed since Gaius Octavius created the Vigiles in 27 B.C. Law enforcement has come from posses beating criminals to specializing into three distinct jurisdictions. History has shown that law enforcement must change with the times. RefrencesSchmalleger, F. (2005). Criminal Justice Today An canonic Text for the 21st Century (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, Pearson Prentice Hall.Unknown (2001). Real Police, History of Police. PG 1-11International Association of Women Police (N.D.).Past and Present, 1915-today. PG 1-4