Explore how ancient Rome handled high-stakes crime, from jury trials to systemic reforms.
Problems of the Roman Criminal Law, Vol. 2 offers a careful, scholarly look at the development of criminal procedure in the late Republic. It examines how juries moved from senate to equites, how extortion cases were handled, and how social and political forces shaped punishment and accountability. The text weaves together legal forms, notable trials, and the evolution of key laws that governed debt, calumny, and public accusations.
The work centers on the mechanics of crime and prosecution, tracing the shift from magistrate-led processes to dedicated jury courts and the long arc of legal reforms that followed. It analyzes doubts, precedents, and debates among ancient jurists and historians to illuminate how Rome tried to balance state authority with individual rights.
- How juries were formed and empowered in major trials for extortion and other crimes.
- The role of Calpurnian and Acilian laws in shaping procedures and remedies.
- Issues of calumnia, infamia, and the limits of private prosecution in Roman law.
- Connections between civil actions, criminal liability, and the concept of repayment or restitution.
Ideal for readers of legal and Roman history who want a precise, evidence-based view of how ancient justice operated.