England Crime and Punishment

Europe British Isles  England

Criminal records
In England, crimes were tried in different courts, usually depending on the severity of the crime. Felonies went to the assize courts, or their equivalent for London, Old Bailey. Individuals who committed misdemeanors and some felonies were tried in quarter sessions, or their equivalent for boroughs, borough sessions. Lesser crimes were adjudicated in petty sessions.

Few of these records are indexed or available online, a notable exception being the Old Bailey.

Criminal Registers

 * England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 at Ancestry (£)

Old Bailey
Old Bailey was the central criminal court for London and Middlesex. Its proceedings from 1674-1913 are available online.

Prison Records

 * Dorset Crime and Punishment
 * Gloucestershire Crime and Punishment
 * London Prisons
 * Yorkshire Crime and Punishment


 * Poverty and Juvenile Crime - Prisons

Prison Hulks

 * UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 at Ancestry (£)
 * Wikipedia List of British prison hulks

Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment U.K. includes 'all U.K. executions from 1735-1794' and identifies 'places of execution.'