ABSTRACT
Our first thematic presentation focuses on the two major prefects, the urban prefect (praefectus urbi) and the praetorian prefect (p. praetorio). The theme sheds important light on punishment theory. As both prefects were mandated by the emperor, changes in the scope of their authority reflect the changing perceptions of the government on the question of increasing the efficacy of criminal justice, especially in the area of commonlaw crime. The changes largely coincide with the formal establishment of punitive differentials between honestiores and humiliores which will be discussed in our next chapter.
