Justice for DnD 5e

As the setting for DnD is more fraught with danger and monsters and magic than medieval history then justice needs to be modified a bit. Here are some ideas.

The Wait's or Night Watchmen are responsible for keeping watch at the city gates. A village will normally have one who may do the rounds to keep an eye on the village (often with a faithful hound) but larger communities may have more and if there is conscription (which depends on the Lords Law) there may be soldiers or men at arms (like home guard) in billets or guard houses to keep watch.

Guards and Soldiers: Typically standing armies are small and peasants were conscripted as required in times of war but it was often a case that a type of national service was required and so men and women often had to do a months service to act as guards. Their job was to protect the settlement from monsters,humanoids, and foreign invaders. They did not typically get involves in day to day crime unless conscripted by the Sheriff.

Sheriff or Man-at -Arms: A man -at -arms may be a noble, a knight or a professional soldier of recognized rank (like a captain) but he/she was a paid professional. Similarly a Sheriff was someone who was paid by the local populace to hold law and order. Rank, and status is dependent on the importance of the town/village and other factors of rulership and organisation.


Tithing: In smaller settlements it is possible that Tithing occurs.The lord splits the village onto groups of ten, and these Tithes are a system of mutual responsibility. If one of the men in a tithe was wanted for a crime, the other nine men in his tithe were punished if he wasn't apprehended.

Hue and Cry: Anyone witnessing a crime was required to cry out that a crime was or had been committed, thereby summoning help with apprehending the miscreant. If the perpetrator had already escaped it was the responsibility of the person discovering the crime to notify the local lord who would then notify local settlements so the Hue and Cry would continue to grow until the suspect was caught. Ignoring the Hue and Cry or starting a false one was also a crime.

Posse: The local sherrif, man at arms, lord etc has the right to call upon local men and women to bear arms and help track down a criminal.

Bounty Hunters/Adventurers and Swords for Hire: The obvious


Trial: As accusation (See Hue and Cry) was a crime itself then those accused were considered guilty until they proved their innocence.

Innocence by Oath: A noble, knight or clergymen could call upon their Oath as Bond of their Innocence - but if it became known that they lied then their word would count for nothing from then on.

Innocence by Oath of Others; basically other members of the community or family would swear their oath that the individual was innocent. If it turns out that they were guilty then all would be punished.


Example of Crimes and punishment:
Sleeping with a noblemans serving maid :12gp fine.

Murder: Execution by strangulation /hanging and then burning.

Poaching: Removal of the ears.

Major theft : Removal of the hand.

Minor theft: Fine equal to value of goods stolen and stocks

Fighting: 1gp Fine and stocks.