As we brought up at the RP Summit, it was said that we should attempt to hash out a system to deal with justice within Bree. Namely in the form of punishments for crimes commited within. Here's what we came up with so far when it was discussed on the Redwold forums...

(Author: Aellwen of the Watchers of Bree)
Petty crimes such as pick pocketing and thievery:

3 choices:
1) 5 days behind bars
2) 1 day in the stocks to be publicly humiliated (people can walk by throwing rotten tomatoes at them and such)
3) a quick branding of the letter T on their wrist to symbolize thievery.

Higher crimes such as assault or especially violent crimes:

3 choices:
1) 7 days behind bars
2) Placed inside a Whirligig (The whirligig was not that bad of a torture. It just span the victim til they puked.)
3) Strapped to a pole and beaten (like the woman beating up that brigand outside the jail)

Capital Crimes:

3 choices again:
1) Death by hanging
2) Death by sword (for those honor bound)
3) Flogging as the only choice for living.

(Author: Lucillia/Whisperhand of the Redwolds)
Addition to minor crimes section. Have a 'community service' type of thing. Example: cleaning the horse stables for x amount of time.

(Author: Wulferyn of the Redwolds)

Re-education.
"What about some kind of re-education program. I don't know what it would involve, but perhaps something along the lines of community service, but perhaps in more life-threatening circumstances than stall cleaning. Serving in the military, serving as a footman for one of the watch, *shrugs* I would love more suggestions. Such a sentence would have to be afore agreed upon by both the sentenced and the accused and would result out of a trial sort of situation. The first part of it could include imprisonment and punishments like flogging and other means of pain-inducing activities. The second part could be punishment could be service.
I would also like to remind everyone not to make the assumption that Tolkien's world = midieval structure. I did quite a bit of research on this after Wulf's arrest, and have yet to do some more. Tolkien was quite the Catholic, and thus, a lot of his morality in ME and justice systems are based off of Augustinian and Kantian theology. So...I suggest reading up on these two systems of thought when trying to come up with suggestions for punishments."

The following may be some helpful links:

http://books.google.com/books?id=B0loOBA3ejIC&pg=PA347&lpg=PA347&dq=Middle+Earth+Judicial+System&source=web&ots=hgDH6De91i&sig=gkuajE8PkPBzBxRsUL5xlMAUM-k#PPA347,M1

http://commonlawyer.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2008/1/10/3457552.html

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/pdfs/unit_seven.pdf

Thanks Luci! I think they are some great ideas here. I was thinking if the Watch/Justice/ and the other parties agreeing to participate in this sort of role play managed to organize specific crimes and their punishments, that things might go a bit smoother.

This is more of a general point for anything that's decided here, but it works with crime and punishment as well.

We may be the quote-unquote RP leadership--if only because we've bothered to get involved--but we should not presume to force anything on anybody who doesn't care to register for this site, or whatever.

So work out a system--and make sure you double-check in each individual case, instead of assuming they know about it.

Yes, you are absolutely right, Tar... and they mentioned something at the summit that might help better filter out who of which is willing to be involved and who isn't willing to be involved. You are able to tag yourself in your bio, and I believe someone has made a post about it on these forums as well.

just thought I'd add this in, but on the capital crimes flogging part, maybe add in exile. They would still be able to return to Bree, but they would be needing a disguise or staying so low so as not to draw attention to themselves.