Chastisement - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition chastisement

Definition :

Chastisement. As to legality of correction of a child by its parent, an apprentice or scholar by his master, or a criminal by an officer, see s. 24 of the (English) Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. 41), replaced by the (English) Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 1904 (4 Edw. 7, c. 15), and see 8 Edw. 7, c. 67. The (English) Children and Young Persons Act, 1933 (23 & 24 Geo. 5, c. 12), s. 1 (7), preserves the right of parent, teacher, or persons having lawful control to administer punishment. As to criminals, the (English) Prisons Act, 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c. 41), and rules thereunder. By s. 5, ibid., the order must be confirmed by the Secretary of State, nd (as to scholars) Cleary v. Booth, (1893) 1 QB 465; and Mansell v. Griffin, (1908) 1 KB 160 (947); R. v. Newport (Salop) J.J., ex parte Wright, 1929 (2) KB 416. A husband cannot inflict chastisement on his wife, and all ancient dicta to the contrary are now unsound, R. v. Jackson, (1891) 1 QB 671. See Lush on Husband and Wife; Macdonell on Master and Servant.