Scott Evans
Criminal Law
CRJ 358
Facilitator Mary Stoddard
In this paper I will describe what I believe the influences the Ten Commandments have had on criminal law. I will list each of the commandments and explain what laws I believed have been derived from the commandment.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt have no other gods before me does not have any recent criminal law examples, but during the middle ages through colonial America if it was discovered by the church that an individual was worshiping another god, including engaging in science, that individual could be put on house arrest, imprisoned or even put to death. As time moved forward this commandment had less and less impact on criminal law, and as of recent times none at all on the criminal law system in the United States.
Thou shalt not make for yourself an idol. I can think of no impact on criminal law by thou shalt not make for yourself an idol, recent or otherwise, unless it is ancient Judaism, that would prevent an individual from engaging in this type of activity.
Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of your God.
Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of your god, I can only think of one criminal law that could be associated with this commandment, disorderly conduct. Although disorderly conduct does not mention cursing or cussing as part of the statute, it certainly is considered tumultuous behavior in certain contexts when an officer encounters an individual engaging in that type of behavior.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy is another example of a commandment that I do not believe there is any influence on modern criminal laws.
Honor thy mother and father. Honor thy mother and father has heavily influenced the juvenile delinquency laws, which are criminal laws that are considered status offenses. Ungovernable, Incorrigibility, Run-Away, and