Spanking children as a disciplinary measure seems to be on the way out with parents, but it appears slapping kids upside the head is still used by some guardians.
In Moose Jaw provincial court recently, Steven Leonard Young, 32, pleaded guilty to assault and received a suspended sentence. He was given 12 months of probation, has to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, report to a probation officer, and complete 20 hours of community service within six months.
Young’s assault charge occurred due to an incident on April 22 in Moose Jaw, explained Crown prosecutor Robbie Parker while reading the facts. Young’s nine-year-old daughter left the family home without permission, so when she returned, he slapped her on the back of the head with an open hand.
“He immediately felt remorseful and apologized,” Parker said. However, he has not been in contact with his daughter or other children since.
Young has a previous criminal record including an assault and break and enter, noted Parker. While the record is dated, there is still a violent conviction on the list. This type of corrective discipline is contrary to what the Supreme Court of Canada says is acceptable; it is considered an assault.
Judge Brian Henderickson wondered where this proposed sentence fell in terms of the length. Parker replied since it was an open-handed slap, he was confident a suspended sentence was acceptable.
Young was a stay-at-home father to four children before this incident, said legal aid lawyer Suzanne Jeanson. Although he did apologize immediately after the assault, Young has had no contact with his four children in a month.
Furthermore, he and the mother are no longer in a relationship, “but are friendly.” While she wants him to have some contact, she is now the primary caregiver.
Young is agreeable to taking anger management and to the community service, said Jeanson. He also has family support.
“This discipline is how he was disciplined as a child, but he understands it is no longer acceptable,” she added.
“I just want to see my children again and to make everything right,” Young told Henderickson. “I want to be there (for them) … I just want to be one big happy family again.”
The judge accepted the joint submission, saying parents do sometimes lose their cool when they become frustrated with their kids. He pointed out that if a weapon had been involved or if Young had repeatedly slapped his daughter, this situation would have been considered more serious.
“I believe that … you are remorseful,” said Henderickson. However, “Children have to be protected. They are precious.”
Moose Jaw provincial court next sits on June 3.
