Historical Development of Security Forces and Policy Making in Crime

* Hammurabi produced the law codes called “Code of Hammurabi” in order to acquire order and welfare. As Hammurabi state in his prologue, “Right and Justice I established in the land, for the good of the people.” (prologue, Hammurabi’s Code)

Hammurabi’s code was a set of laws made by Hammurabi. They were the first written set of laws. There is a debate about if Hammurabi’s code was just or unjust. I think Hammurabi’s code was just. The codes were just, because it protected the weak, helped people in troubles, and scared people form breaking the codes.

Around 4,000 years ago Hammurabi’s code was created by Hammurabi the king of Babylonia with the goal of bringing justice to his kingdom. He even claimed that Shamash the god of justice commanded him to make these laws. Then his laws were carved into large stone’s called steles, written in the ancient cuneiform written, and then put up throughout all major communities of Babylonia. However, these ancient laws were not fair for everyone in his kingdom. Hammurabi’s Code was unjust because the laws pertaining to family life, property law, and personal injury were unfair.

The Twelve Tables were the first laws ever written down and shown to the public in Ancient Rome. The Twelve Tables were displayed in the Roman Forum or marketplace. The Twelve Tables were also the earliest surviving writings of Ancient Rome.

In regards to the Hammurabi Code of Law, Hammurabi claimed that the gods had picked him to “promote the welfare of the people …to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil, so that the strong might not oppress the weak…” His intention was to hold those under his rule accountable for their actions and inspire “appropriate behaviors”. In fact, according to literature, the code functioned on the principle of “lex talionis” which basically translates as the “law of retaliation”. The idea was that the punishment would fit the crime, at least in theory. Similar to today’s laws, individual judges were allowed discretion and did not always follow the code specifically. Never the less, the code was always utilized as a reference for solution. (Bentley and Zeigler, p. 30)

In 1750 B.C. a new king of babylonia arose by the name of Hammurabi. He continued his reign up until 1792 B.C. but most importantly his reign did not go unforgotten. During his reign he was in charge of giving punishments to the wrongdoings of his citizens. As he conquered other cities and his empire grew he saw the need to unify groups he controlled, he was concerned about keeping order in his kingdom. In order to achieve this goal, he needed one universal set of laws for all the people he conquered thus he created the Hammurabi code.

When comparing the crime control law enforcement approach in contrast to the approach the rights-based approach to law enforcement it is import to the differences in being a crime fighter versus a public servant. The dynamics of each bring uniquely different philosophical objectives and outcomes for the public. What is the primary role of law enforcement? Some would argue combating crime is the primary role. Others would argue providing protection through service is the primary role. In either case, when examining each philosophy it is important to objectively view the outcomes each provides.

Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian Law Code created by King Hammurabi in the ancient near East around 1750 BC. The code followed along the saying “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” was created to set social and protect the highest social class of the time: the Patricians. Mesopotamians adopted the code to establish government commanded by those in power. Political and authority positions were given depending on social and military statuses. When a law was broken the punishment was set accordingly to the person who committed the act.

“With laws unwritten, patrician officials often interpreted the law to suit themselves. In 451 B.C., a group of ten officials began writing down Rome’s laws. The laws were carved on twelve tablets, or tables, and hung in the Forum. They became the basis for later Roman law. The Twelve Tables established the idea that all free citizens had a right to the protection of the law.” (page 156)

Throughout history, society has evolved in the way that it views certain features of the world. Among these aspects include law and order. When it pertains to setting and enforcing different laws, what society views as appropriate has changed over the years. What was once considered acceptable, may be thought of as wrong, or even barbaric in today’s times. When passing judgement on past regulations and punishments, it is important to consider the period of which the law was in effect.

The Roman twelve tables were created in 450B.C. It was the romans first attempt to establish empire laws. The 12 tables were the oldest surviving piece of Roman literature. They dealt with laws involving property,crime and family matters to govern Rome and established the first “bicameral congress”. They were written on bronze tablets called tables.

In the 18th century bc, Babylonian king Hammurabi developed a code of law, known as the Code of Hammurabi, which codified many specific rules governing the practices of early risk-sharing activities. For instance, the code dictated that traders had to repay merchants who financed trading voyages unless thieves stole goods in transit, in which case debts would be cancelled.

The Twelve Tables is an ancient Roman table of laws that have shaped Roman culture and society as we understand it. From those laws, a greater understanding of Roman life is revealed. Beyond the rules, there is evidence of class structure, and economy. As well as family relations and power. The Twelve Tables touch on slander and death in Roman lives.

Twelve tables are earliest written legislation of ancient Roman law, dating back to 450 BC. They were written by 10 commissioners (decemvirs) because the plebeians felt their legal rights were infringed on. It came together to protect both classes patricians and plebeians from abuse of power. They were likely written on bronze tablets posted in the Roman Forum.

The Twelve Tables and Valerio-Horatian Laws were passed in 449 BC in Rome by the plebs in the tribune assembly and the patricians in the senate, respectively. The Twelve Tables originally sprouted from the Lex Terentilia, which was an attempt from the plebs to define and limit consular power of the patricians. However, since the patricians avoided it and the plebs were divided on the issue, the law was changed. Patricians edited the law to form the Decemvirate, a group of ten that had consular power to write laws. This group created the Twelve Tables, laws important to the Republic, like defining property rights, but more importantly sanctified patrician power.