A Baton Rouge mom was arrested for whipping her children after finding out that they had burglarized a home. Discipline or child abuse?

30-year-old Schaquana Spears of Baton Rouge was devastated at the thought of losing custody of her children after being released from jail on a bond, payed for by a stranger. A teary-eyed mother spoke to WBRZ, explaining her story and trying to justify her actions.

Spears was arrested after admitting that she whipped three of her children after finding out that they had just broken into someone's home and robbed them. She was booked on child cruelty charges. She told WBRZ:

"They're just being kids, being followers. I thought I was showing them this is not what you do. You do not steal people's stuff, what they work hard for. I know how that feels, I've had my house broken into."

District Attorney Hillar Moore also released a statement.

"Parents have the right and obligation to discipline and teach their children. We often time see children who have no parental authority or discipline which eventually results in delinquency and criminal acts. We need more parents who discipline their children. Surely you would expect a parent to discipline a child who is burglarizing other people’s homes as this could be a deadly encounter for the child. The degree of physical discipline will be reviewed. The law does not allow excessive pain or cruelty but does allow physical parental discipline. I only have the short synopsis which does indicate that the discipline resulted in marks on the child’s body and possibly an open wound. I will review all of the reports; meet with the DCFS office and review any history of this mother and her children to get a better picture of the entire family dynamics before making a decision. In the meantime my office is working with the juvenile court to ensure the speedy release of the mother under conditions satisfactory to the court."

Spears has now been bonded out of jail, payed for by a stranger that heard her story and did not agree with the punishment that she has received. Here is what Spears had to say after being released from jail.

What do you think? Did this mom deserve to be put in jail for her discipline method? Or was the punishment justified? Leave your comments below.

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