Criminal Justice Act 1948
Encyclopedia
The Criminal Justice Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo 6 c 58) is an Act
of the Parliament
of the United Kingdom
. It has been described as "one of the most important measures relating to the reform of the criminal law and its administration." It abolished penal servitude, hard labour and prison divisions for England and Wales
(s.1). It abolished whipping
for England and Wales
and Scotland
(s.2).
Provision corresponding to some of the provisions made by this Act is made by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1949 and the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 and the Criminal Law Act, 1997.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It has been described as "one of the most important measures relating to the reform of the criminal law and its administration." It abolished penal servitude, hard labour and prison divisions for England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
(s.1). It abolished whipping
Flagellation
Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...
for England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(s.2).
Provision corresponding to some of the provisions made by this Act is made by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1949 and the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 and the Criminal Law Act, 1997.
External links
- The Criminal Justice Act 1948, as amended from the National Archives.
- The Criminal Justice Act 1948, as originally enacted from the National Archives.