Justices Commitment Act 1741 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | 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. |
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| Citation | 15 Geo. 2. c. 24 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 June 1742 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Criminal Justice Administration Act 1914 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Justices Commitment Act 1741 was a law made by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1742. This law helped make it clear what powers justices of the peace had. Justices of the peace were like local judges. They could send people who broke the law to a special type of prison.
Why This Law Was Needed
Before this law, there was a problem. Many towns did not have their own prisons. This meant that local judges, called justices of the peace, were not sure where to send people they sentenced. People wondered if these judges could really send someone to a prison in a different area.
Solving the Problem
To fix this confusion, the Act made things clear. It said that justices of the peace in a town or special area could send lawbreakers to the main prison of the county. A county is a larger region that includes many towns. This meant that even if a town did not have its own prison, the judges could still do their job. They could send people to a "house of correction" in the county. A house of correction was a type of jail or workhouse.
The End of the Law
The Justices Commitment Act 1741 was a law for a long time. However, it was eventually removed. This happened in 1914. The law was officially cancelled by a new law called the Criminal Justice Administration Act 1914.
