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Criminal Law of Ancient Rome

NCJ Number
170218
Author(s)
O F Robinson
Date Published
1995
Length
220 pages
Annotation
In the first book in English to focus on the substantive criminal law of ancient Rome, the author examines the framework within which criminal law operated around 81-82 B.C. and the nature of criminal responsibility.
Abstract
The author looks at the criminal law of Rome as it was established under Sulla's system of standing jury courts and discusses the framework of criminal procedures and criminal liability. She groups offenses functionally according to five categories: theft and related offenses, violence against the person, sexual offenses, offenses against the state, and offenses against good morals and public discipline. Theft offenses include rustling, pillaging inheritances, sacrilege, swindling, kidnapping, corruption of slaves, and forgery. Violent crimes include homicide, parricide, assault, castration, and circumcision. Sexual offenses involve incest, bigamy, adultery, homosexual practices, rape, and abduction. Offenses against the state encompass treason and abuses by magistrates, while offenses against good morals and public discipline involve dubious persons, status-related offenses, and offenses against religion. References and notes