Victorian Crime and Punishment - Courts, police and prisons (308)
Court records can provide a fascinating glimpse into the criminal lives our ancestors but crime is not the only topic covered in this course. There are records of juries, witnesses, licences for gamekeepers and pedlars plus records from the High Courts & Chancery where families squabble over inheritances and property. We also examine records of the new police force and the management of prisons.
This course presents the background and the records, includes illustrations and case studies, and sets forth the best research methods, online and in archives. If your family tree lacks privileged ancestors it may have other well-documented ancestors - those who made their way into records of crime and punishment.
Lesson Headings:
- The 19th Century Legal System
- Local Court Records
- The High Court and Civil Litigation
- From Parish Constable to Police Constable
- Prisons and Punishment
Relevant countries: England, Wales
What to expect:
Each lesson includes lesson notes, activities and forum exercises for students to complete during the week and a one-hour live tutorial (text chat or Zoom) with the tutor and the rest of the class. Times for the tutorials are set at the beginning of each course by the tutor.
This is an assessed course. The length of the course given is the number of teaching weeks but students should also allow time in the couple of weeks after the course ends to complete assignments.
Students said:
"I learned a tremendous amount about crime and punishment but also was given many ideas for taking that further."
"I enjoyed all of it, particularly history of the police and the punishment lessons. When it came to the case study assignment it enabled pulling together all skills learned to the present and good practice at further investigation work."
- Tutor: Richard Holt
- Length: 5 weeks
- Start date: Mon 7 Sep 2026
- Start date: Mon 22 Feb 2027
- Start date: Mon 13 Sep 2027