1Ulpianus, On the Duties of the Urban Prefect. An Epistle of the Divine Severus to Fabius Cilo, Prefect of the City, states that he has jurisdiction of all offences of every description, not only those committed within the city, but also those which are committed outside of it, in Italy. 1He must hear the complaints of slaves against their masters who have fled for refuge to the Imperial statues, or have been purchased by their own money in order to be manumitted. 2He must also hear the complaints of needy patrons concerning their freedmen; especially if they assert that they are ill and wish to be supported by them. 3He has authority to relegate and deport persons to an island designated by the Emperor. 4In the beginning of the Epistle referred to the following appears: “Since We have confided Our City to your care”; hence whatever is done within the city appears to be under the jurisdiction of the Prefect, and this also applies to any offence committed within the hundredth milestone, but beyond that distance the Prefect of the City has no jurisdiction. 5Where anyone accuses a slave of having committed adultery with his wife, the case must be tried before the Prefect of the City. 6He can take cognizance of proceedings under the interdicts Quod vi aut clam, or Unde vi. 7It is customary to send guardians or curators before the Prefect of the City, who, having administered their trusts fraudulently, deserve a more severe punishment than the infamy arising from suspicion; for example, when it can be proved that they have bought their guardianships with money, or for a bribe have exerted themselves to prevent a suitable guardian from being appointed for anyone; or when they, having declared the amount of the property of their wards; purposely diminished it; or where they alienated the said property evidently with fraudulent design. 8When it is said that the prefect must hear the complaints of slaves against their masters, we should understand that this does not mean that they can accuse their masters (for a slave is never allowed to do this, unless for specific reasons), but that they may humbly apply to him where their masters treat them with cruelty, harshness, or starve them, or may state to the Prefect of the City that they have been forced to endure indecent attacks. It was also a duty imposed upon the Prefect of the City by the Divine Severus, that he should protect slaves from being prostituted by their masters. 9Again, the Prefect of the City should take care that money-brokers conduct everything connected with their business honestly, and refrain from illegal acts. 10Where a patron states that he has been treated disrespectfully or been insulted by his freedman; or that he and his children, or his wife, have been abused by him, or brings any similar accusation; it is customary for him to appear before the Prefect of the City, who will punish the freedman according to the complaint, either by warning him, or by having him scourged, or by inflicting a still more severe penalty, for freedmen very often deserve to be punished. And indeed if the patron can prove that he brought a criminal accusation against him, or that he has conspired against him with his enemy, he can be sentenced to labor in the mines. 11Supervision of every kind of meat and its sale at a reasonable price is one of the duties of the Prefect, and the hog market is also in his charge, as well as that of other animals, and herds of cattle and flocks of sheep destined for this purpose come under his jurisdiction. 12The preservation of public peace and order at exhibitions is held to be one of the duties of the Prefect of the City; and, indeed, he should station soldiers at different points for the purpose of maintaining the public peace, and to report to him whatever takes place in the city. 13The Urban Prefect can compel anyone to remain away from the city, as well as from any of the other districts, and forbid him to transact any business, or practice any profession, or act as advocate, either temporarily or for all time. He can also prohibit him from attending exhibitions, and if he exiles him from Italy, can remove him from his native province as well. 14The Divine Severus stated in a Rescript that those who are said to have held unlawful assemblies must be prosecuted before the Prefect of the City.

2Paulus, On the Duties of the Prefect of the City. According to an Epistle of the Divine Hadrian he can be applied to in cases brought by bankers or against them, and pecuniary cases can, for the most part, be tried before him.

3Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book II. The Prefect of the City has no jurisdiction beyond the limits of the city, but he can appoint judges outside of it.