The Tresviri Capitales were formed around 290 or 287. Their name was derived from their groups supervision of the prison and executions that took place there. According to Plautus when they were founded they were a group of three men that would be elected by the Urban Praetors.The Tresviri Capitales changed the way Roman society utilized the death penalty. The death penalty was a state tool instead of a private matter carried out due to vengeance. Sometime between 242 and 122 BCE a Lex Papiria ordered that the Tresviri Capitales would be elected by the Comitia Tributa also known as Tribal Assembly. During the year 213, after complaining from Roman citizens, the Tresviri Capitales would take action against the practice of foreign cults in public spaces. They destroyed the places of worship for these cults. Later the Senate put an Urban Praetor in charge of taking action against the practice of foreign cults in public places.
