Gregory J Durston is a barrister-at-law who has taught in Law Schools in England and Japan. He was for many years Reader in Law at Kingston University, Surrey and is currently an adjunct professor at Southern Cross University School of Law and Justice, New South Wales. His Criminal Justice History Series includes Whores and Highwaymen: Crime and Justice in the Eighteenth-century Metropolis (2012); Fields, Fens and Felonies: Crime and Justice in Eighteenth-century East Anglia (2016); and Crimen Exceptum: The English Witch Prosecution in Context (2019) (all Waterside Press).

'Interest never flags in this mammoth survey of the criminal justice system in England... an accessible and readable survey of a "transitional" era in which many major changes to the criminal justice system between 1485 and 1603 were "spontaneous".'-- Nicholas Goodman, Law Society Gazette; 'Many books about history simply present the bare facts. What is notable about this work is that though we are given an account of the legal and social processes, they are usually followed by examples, often entertaining, of their application. It makes the work highly readable. It is a weighty tome, but both enlightening and enjoyable.'-- Gordon Cropper, The Monitor.

• PART 1 - PRELIMINARY MATTERS; Introduction; Setting the Scene; The Quest for Order; PART 2 - ENTERING THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM; Policing; The Justices of the Peace; The Coroner and his Inquest; Entering the Criminal-Justice System; PART 3 - PROSECUTION, THE COURTS, TRIAL, AND PUNISHMENT; Methods of Prosecution for Felony; The Criminal Courts; Lesser Courts; Trial on Indictment; Punishment; PART 4 - AVOIDING THE DEATH-FOR-FELONY RULE; Sanctuary and Abjuration; Down-valuing and Lesser Verdicts; Benefit of Clergy, Pregnancy, and Pardons; PART 5 - CRIME; Homicide and Violence; Infanticide and Abortion; Sexual Offences; Property Crime; General Conclusion. Frequently Used Acronyms. Bibliography. Index.

Gregory J Durston is a barrister-at-law who has taught in Law Schools in England and Japan. He was for many years Reader in Law at Kingston University, Surrey and is currently an adjunct professor at Southern Cross University School of Law and Justice, New South Wales. His Criminal Justice History Series includes Whores and Highwaymen: Crime and Justice in the Eighteenth-century Metropolis (2012); Fields, Fens and Felonies: Crime and Justice in Eighteenth-century East Anglia (2016); and Crimen Exceptum: The English Witch Prosecution in Context (2019) (all Waterside Press).

'Interest never flags in this mammoth survey of the criminal justice system in England... an accessible and readable survey of a "transitional" era in which many major changes to the criminal justice system between 1485 and 1603 were "spontaneous".'-- Nicholas Goodman, Law Society Gazette; 'Many books about history simply present the bare facts. What is notable about this work is that though we are given an account of the legal and social processes, they are usually followed by examples, often entertaining, of their application. It makes the work highly readable. It is a weighty tome, but both enlightening and enjoyable.'-- Gordon Cropper, The Monitor.

• PART 1 - PRELIMINARY MATTERS; Introduction; Setting the Scene; The Quest for Order; PART 2 - ENTERING THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM; Policing; The Justices of the Peace; The Coroner and his Inquest; Entering the Criminal-Justice System; PART 3 - PROSECUTION, THE COURTS, TRIAL, AND PUNISHMENT; Methods of Prosecution for Felony; The Criminal Courts; Lesser Courts; Trial on Indictment; Punishment; PART 4 - AVOIDING THE DEATH-FOR-FELONY RULE; Sanctuary and Abjuration; Down-valuing and Lesser Verdicts; Benefit of Clergy, Pregnancy, and Pardons; PART 5 - CRIME; Homicide and Violence; Infanticide and Abortion; Sexual Offences; Property Crime; General Conclusion. Frequently Used Acronyms. Bibliography. Index.

Gregory J Durston is a barrister-at-law who has taught in Law Schools in England and Japan. He was for many years Reader in Law at Kingston University, Surrey and is currently an adjunct professor at Southern Cross University School of Law and Justice, New South Wales. His Criminal Justice History Series includes Whores and Highwaymen: Crime and Justice in the Eighteenth-century Metropolis (2012); Fields, Fens and Felonies: Crime and Justice in Eighteenth-century East Anglia (2016); and Crimen Exceptum: The English Witch Prosecution in Context (2019) (all Waterside Press).

'Interest never flags in this mammoth survey of the criminal justice system in England... an accessible and readable survey of a "transitional" era in which many major changes to the criminal justice system between 1485 and 1603 were "spontaneous".'-- Nicholas Goodman, Law Society Gazette; 'Many books about history simply present the bare facts. What is notable about this work is that though we are given an account of the legal and social processes, they are usually followed by examples, often entertaining, of their application. It makes the work highly readable. It is a weighty tome, but both enlightening and enjoyable.'-- Gordon Cropper, The Monitor.

• PART 1 - PRELIMINARY MATTERS; Introduction; Setting the Scene; The Quest for Order; PART 2 - ENTERING THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM; Policing; The Justices of the Peace; The Coroner and his Inquest; Entering the Criminal-Justice System; PART 3 - PROSECUTION, THE COURTS, TRIAL, AND PUNISHMENT; Methods of Prosecution for Felony; The Criminal Courts; Lesser Courts; Trial on Indictment; Punishment; PART 4 - AVOIDING THE DEATH-FOR-FELONY RULE; Sanctuary and Abjuration; Down-valuing and Lesser Verdicts; Benefit of Clergy, Pregnancy, and Pardons; PART 5 - CRIME; Homicide and Violence; Infanticide and Abortion; Sexual Offences; Property Crime; General Conclusion. Frequently Used Acronyms. Bibliography. Index.