1741: 15 George 2 c.24: An act to empower the Justices of the Peace of a Liberty or Corporation, to commit Offenders to the House of Correction of the County, Riding or Division, in which such Liberty or Corporation is situate.
‘WHEREAS Doubts and Questions have arisen, touching the Commitment of Offenders, by Justices of the Peace of Liberties and Corporations, to the Houses of Correction of Counties, Ridings or Divisions, in which such Liberties and Corporations are situate, though the Inhabitants of such Liberties and Corporations contribute to the Maintenance and Support of such Houses of Correction;’ Be it therefore declared and enabled by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
[Justices of a Liberty or Corporation, may commit Offenders to the House of Correction of the County, &c.]
That in all Cases, where any Person liable by Law to be committed to the House of Correction, shall be apprehended within any Liberty, City or Town Corporate, whose Inhabitants are contributory to the Support and Maintenance of the House or Houses of Correction of the County, Riding of Division, in which such Liberty, City or Town Corporate is situate; it shall and may be lawful for the Justices of the Peace of such Liberty, City or Town Corporate, to commit such Person to the House of Correction of the County, Riding or Division, in which such Liberty, City or Town Corporate is situate; which Person so committed, shall and may be received, detained, dealt with and ordered, and be set and kept to hard Labour, or conveyed and sent away, or discharged, and be subject and liable to the same correction and Punishment, to all Intents and Purposes, as if committed by any Justice or Justices of the Peace of the same County, Riding or Division.
[Farther provisions concerning Justices, 16 Geo. 2. c. 18. l8 Geo. 2. c. 20. 24 Geo. 2. c. 44 & 55. 26 Geo. 2. c. 14 & 27. 27 Geo. 2. c. 16 & 20. 1 Geo. 3. c. 13.]
Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, vol. 6.
Further reading: Wikipedia.