Crime and Punishment.

Essay by speedegrilHigh School, 11th grade September 2003

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Crime in the nineteeth century was rapid though out London.

But because of all of the poverty and sickness in the streets, crime

was the only way to survive. Most of the crimes that took place in

London were crimes that involved stealing. Pickpocket gangs and

street gamblers were a regular sight when walking down a major London

street. Prostitution was also a big money maker on the streets, done

by both girls and boys. But crimes though out the middle class and

rich were mostly property crimes and disputes which made up 90% of all

crimes committed by the upper-class. In Victorian England and like

today there a two categories which crimes fall under. "Indictable"

which is the same as our felony crimes that make up all of the major

crimes. These crimes consist of: Murder, armed robbery, burglary,

larceny, rape, and assaults on the police. The next called category

is called " Summery " crimes which is equal to our misdemeanor crimes.

Summery crimes were all minor crimes such as: Property crimes,

Vagrancy, Drunkenness, Prostitution, Minor Larceny , and all other

minor offenses.

Probably the most famous criminal in the Victorian period

was " Jack the Ripper ". Jack the Ripper was " the first modern sexual

serial killer" ( Sugden, pg.2) Jack's trademark was the killing of

female prostitutes. But not only did he kill them, he would

surgically remove organs and intrails and place them near the dead

body. "Jack the Ripper" wasn't his only nickname, he was also called "

the Whitechaple murder " because the body's were found near the

Whitechapel Road, and " The Leather Apron" because of a man that would

come by and beat up the prostitutes for no reason. Jack the Ripper is

credited for 9 killings, but police...