The Bahamas

Corpun file 5313

Bahamas annual returns 1937

[Notes added within the Colonial Office

note 5.3.38 Have Bahamas any provision as some Cols have prohibiting corporal punishment of children under 12?

note 12.3.38 By s.4 of the Bahamas Penal Code (Cap.60) a "Juvenile Offender" is defined as including "any offender who is proved to be or in the absence of legal proof to the contrary appears to the Court to be of and above seven years of age and under seventeen years of age" and it is provided by S.117(2) that "when a juvenile offender is convicted of any offence punishable by fine or imprisonment the court may, in substitution for or in addition to such other punishment sentence him to be whipped".

The Juvenile Offenders Act 1936 defines "child" as a person under the age of fourteen yrs (s..2) and lays down that "where a child or young person charged with any offence is tried by any court and the court is satisfied of his guilt the Court shall take into consideration the manner in which under the provisions of this or any other act or otherwise enabling the Court to deal with the case, the case should be dealt with ...... by ordering the offender to be whipped" (s..17)

note 14.3.38 "They seem to be rather fond of whipping juveniles in Bahamas but I cannot see anything in this report to which we should take exception"]

Return of cases of juvenile offenders year ended 31 Dec 1937
Legislative Authority in each case: S.117(2) of Ch.60

also: 4 adults by court order (instr. not specified)