Arizona’s territorial era has the reputation of being a violent and crime-ridden place with ineffective criminal justice institutions.  This presentation provides an overview of crime and justice in Arizona Territory.  Based on data from court cases and newspapers, it describes the types of crimes most commonly committed and the justice system’s response to them.  Contrary to popular perception, crime was not particularly violent, nor was crime itself a particular problem. Moreover, Arizona Territory’s justice system was relatively effective compared to…