Legal Definitions - urban prefect

Definition: An urban prefect is a senator in Roman law who is responsible for maintaining law and order in the city of Rome. The position originated in the early Empire and the prefect had both criminal and civil jurisdiction. The prefect of the city was also known as praefectus urbi.

Example: The urban prefect had the duty of keeping the city of Rome safe and orderly. They were in charge of the urban cohorts, which was a police force of 4,000 to 6,000 men. The prefect also had criminal jurisdiction and became the chief criminal court for Rome and the surrounding district within 100 miles.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the urban prefect was responsible for maintaining law and order in the city of Rome. They had the power to enforce the law and punish those who broke it. The urban cohorts were under their command and were responsible for keeping the peace in the city. The prefect's criminal jurisdiction made them the chief criminal court for Rome and the surrounding district, which shows their importance in the legal system of the time.