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In Assault Cases, Parents Must Show Discipline is Reasonable
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Ohio Supreme Court says it’s up to parents or caregivers charged with injuring a child to prove their actions were a form of reasonable discipline.
At issue was the 2017 domestic violence and assault conviction of a man for allegedly beating his girlfriend’s son for acting out in school. The defendant argued that placing the burden to prove his actions were reasonable violated his constitutional due process rights.
The unanimous opinion rejected that argument, saying it’s fair to ask a defendant to prove through testimony or witnesses that the discipline was justified.