1817: 57 George 3 c.75: An Act to abolish the Punishment of Public Whipping on Female Offenders.

[7th July 1817.]

WHEREAS the Punishment of Public Whipping of Female Offenders has been found inexpedient; Be it therefore enacted 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,

[Judgment of Public Whipping shall not be awarded on Females.]

That from and after the passing of this Act Judgment shall not be given and awarded against any Female or Females convicted of any Offence that such Female Offender or Offenders do suffer the Punishment of being publicly whipped; any Law, Statute or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

[Instead thereof Hard Labour in the House of Correction.]

II. And be it further enacted, That in all cases where the Punishment of Public Whipping on Female Offenders has hitherto formed the Whole or Part of the Judgment to be pronounced, it shall and may be lawful for the Court before whom any such Offender shall be tried, to pass such Sentence of Confinement to Hard Labour in the Common Gaol or House of Correction, in lieu of the Sentence of being publicly whipped, as to the said Court shall seem most proper:

[Proviso.]

Provided that nothing herein contained shall extend or be construed to extend in any manner to change, alter or affect any Punishment whatsoever, which may now be by Law inflicted in respect to any Offence, except only the Punishment of Public Whipping on Female Offenders, in manner as herein above is enacted.

Source: Butterworths Collection, 1817.

Note: Repealed by 1820 1 George 4 c.57, which abolished the judicial whipping of women outright.