How effective were law enforcement and punishments in preventing crime medievil history?

In medieval history, law enforcement and punishments were often ineffective in preventing crime due to a lack of centralized authority and limited resources. Many regions relied on local lords or community-based systems for law enforcement, leading to inconsistencies in the application of justice. Punishments tended to be harsh and public, aiming to instill fear rather than rehabilitate offenders, but this often failed to deter crime. Furthermore, societal factors such as poverty, feudal obligations, and lack of education contributed to ongoing criminal behavior despite punitive measures.