Early Nineteenth-Century Law Enforcement Vocabulary Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on nineteenth-century law enforcement.

Bobbies

The name for members of the Metropolitan Police Service in London, established by Robert Peel.

Napoleonic Codes

A comprehensive set of civil laws established by Napoleon Bonaparte, influencing many legal systems around the world.

Gendarmerie

A military force charged with police duties among civilian populations in France.

Stipendiary Magistrate

A legally qualified magistrate paid a stipend to hear cases.

Thames Police Act

An 1800 Act that established police jurisdiction over the Thames River and adjacent areas.

Freeholders

Landowners who held property and had legal rights in pre-19th-century England.

Vigilante

A member of a self-appointed group that undertakes law enforcement without legal authority.

Scotland Yard

The headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service in London.

Interpol

The International Criminal Police Organization, facilitating international police cooperation.

Thief-catcher

A person who was hired to find and recover stolen property, often acting beyond legal limits.

Middlesex Justices Act

A 1792 law establishing paid magistrates in Middlesex.

Copper

A slang term for police officer, derived from the copper badges they wore.

Howard Vincent

An influential figure in the development of modern British policing and author of a significant report on the police system.

Brigade de Sûreté

The detective unit in Paris initiated by François Vidocq.

Plantation discipline

The system of control used over enslaved individuals in the Southern United States.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French military leader and emperor who codified laws and established centralized law enforcement.

Charlies

A less formal term for constables in London, named during the Restoration period.

Copper, cop

Slang terms for police officers originating from the badges worn by them.

Vesey, Denmark

An enslaved man involved in a large-scale slave revolt plot in South Carolina.

Johnny Wild

A notorious thief-taker in London who engaged in corruption and crime.

Bifurcated legal system

A division of the legal profession into two categories: barristers and solicitors.

Samuel Pennypacker

A prominent reformer who advocated for new policing methods.

Allan Pinkerton

Founder of the first detective agency in the United States, known for his private investigations.

Joseph Fouché

Napoleon's Minister of Police, instrumental in establishing France’s national police system.

William Pitt the Younger

British Prime Minister who endorsed early police reforms in London.

Reform and revised legislation

Changes in laws that improved policing and criminal justice practices in the 19th century.

Howard Vincent

The founder of the Criminal Investigation Department in the UK.

Chain of command

The hierarchical structure in police organizations that determines authority and responsibility.

Law enforcement

The system of police and other agencies that maintain public order and enforce laws.

Public security

The safety and welfare of the public that is ensured by law enforcement.

Detectives

Police officers assigned to investigate crimes and gather information.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement that emphasized reason and individualism; it influenced legal reforms.

Metropolitan Police Act

The 1829 legislation that established the Metropolitan Police Force in London.

Night watchmen

Individuals hired to patrol streets during the night for safety and crime prevention.

Federal Marshals Service

The federal law enforcement agency tasked with serving warrants and protecting federal witnesses.

Judicial reforms

Changes in the court system to improve justice and legal processes.

Slave patrol

A form of law enforcement that tracked and controlled enslaved people in the Southern US.

Paris Police

The law enforcement organization established in Paris, heavily influenced by military structure.

Thief-taker General

A title used by Jonathan Wild who was known for his corrupt practices.

Public perception

The general opinion of society regarding law enforcement personnel and their methods.

Jonathon Wild

A celebrated thief-taker in London known for his controversial methods.

Centralized law enforcement

A policing structure where authority is concentrated at a national or federal level.

Constables

Peace officers in charge of law enforcement in local areas, particularly in England.

Self-sufficiency of institutions

The ability of law enforcement agencies to operate independently and effectively.

Political influences

The impact of political systems and powers on law enforcement practices.

Enlightened age

A period marked by the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on law and governance.

Bobbies

A colloquial term for London policemen, reflecting the influence of Sir Robert Peel.

The French Revolution

A period of radical social and political upheaval in France that led to the reformation of policing.

Military presence in police

The use of military forces in enforcing civilian laws, common in France.

State police forces

Law enforcement agencies at the state level, created to manage law enforcement across jurisdictions.

Bourbon Restoration

The period after Napoleon's fall during which the French monarchy was restored, influencing police reform.