Justices of the Peace in the Tudor period
The role of Justice of the Peace Someone responsible for maintaining law and order in a county. Often abbreviated to JP. (JPs) was a varied one. They:
- organised road and bridge repairs
- checked weights and measures in shops
- gave ale houses licences
- supervised poor relief
- acted as magistrateA judge who hears cases in court. in petty sessionsA local court where two or more JPs would deal with minor cases. and quarter sessions Courts held every three months when a group of JPs would hear serious cases.
- arrested and interrogated suspects
- organised the constables and watchmen
How effective were Justices of the Peace in the Tudor period?
In the Tudor period, JPs were unpaid. However, this probably did not reduce their effectiveness as most were rich landowners who did the job for prestige and status rather than financial reward. Most acted in a serious and professional manner.
In this period, JPs had a key role in arresting and punishing offenders. Their powers increased in 1554, after which time they could they could order the arrest of a person on suspicion of a crime and have them interrogated for three days. This made them more effective.
As JPs were landowners with status in their local communities, most could rely on the respect of the people, who usually abided by their decisions. However, their role and workload increased in this period, especially due to the rise in vagrantHomeless, unemployed person who wandered the streets. Some JPs began to be corrupt and abuse their position, especially during the 17th century.