Legal Definitions - corporal punishment

Corporal punishment refers to any punishment that involves the use of physical force directly on a person's body. The primary intent is to cause pain or discomfort as a disciplinary measure or as a penalty for an offense. While it doesn't necessarily involve causing physical injury, it is characterized by the deliberate infliction of bodily sensation for punitive purposes.

• Example 1: School Discipline

  Imagine a private school where, for serious infractions like fighting or vandalism, the principal administers a few strikes with a wooden paddle to a student's buttocks. This action is intended to cause immediate physical discomfort as a consequence for their misbehavior.

  This illustrates corporal punishment because physical force (paddling) is directly applied to the student's body to inflict pain as a disciplinary measure for their actions.

• Example 2: Parental Discipline

  Consider a parent who, after repeatedly asking their child to stop running into the street, gives the child a quick, light smack on their bottom. The parent's intention is to use the momentary physical discomfort to immediately stop the dangerous behavior and reinforce the rule.

  This is an example of corporal punishment as it involves the physical application of force to the child's body, intended to cause discomfort and deter future disobedience.

• Example 3: Judicial Sentence (Historical or International Context)

  In some historical legal systems, or in certain countries today where it remains legal, a court might order a convicted individual to receive a specific number of strokes with a cane on their back as part of their sentence for a crime like theft or vandalism.

  This is a clear instance of corporal punishment, as the state-sanctioned act involves the direct infliction of physical pain upon the offender's body as a penalty for a crime.