Willis v. State

Eleven-year-old J.J. Willis, who had a history of lying and stealing, took his mother's clothes to school and gave them to a classmate. His mother, Sophia Willis (defendant), confronted him; he repeatedly denied it. She had him remove his pants, place his hands on a bunk bed, and struck him five to seven times on the buttocks with a belt or extension cord, leaving some bruises on his arm and thighs. A school nurse reported the bruises, and Sophia was charged with felony battery on a child. After a bench trial she was found guilty and sentenced to 365 days (357 suspended). The Court of Appeals affirmed, and the Indiana Supreme Court granted review.

Whether a parent is privileged to use reasonable force or confinement on her child that she reasonably believes necessary for the child's proper control, training, or education.