The Introduction of Habeas Corpus

What is habeas corpus?

Habeas corpus represented a big change in criminal law.

What does habeas corpus mean?

Habeas corpus means 'you have the body'.

When was habeas corpus passed?

The Habeas Corpus Act was passed in 1679.

What rights did the Habeas Corpus Act give?

Habeas Corpus Act gave 5 important rights.

• ❖ The act improved the rights of citizens and those who were arrested.
• ❖ It prevented the authorities from locking a person up indefinitely without charging them with a crime.
• ❖ Anyone who was arrested had to appear in court within a certain time or be released.
• ❖ People no longer had to fear being seized and locked up without a trial.
• ❖ However, governments still sometimes made up evidence at trial as an excuse to lock up their critics.