• Source: Forfeiture Act 1870

The Forfeiture Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 23) or the Felony Act 1870 is a British act of Parliament that abolished the automatic forfeiture of goods and land as a punishment for treason and felony. It does not apply to Scotland, which did not fully abolish forfeiture until the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1949. Prior to the act being passed, a person convicted of treason or felony automatically and permanently forfeited all of his lands and possessions to the Crown. The old offence of praemunire, which was also punished with forfeiture, was only a misdemeanour, and so the act did not apply to it.
Although the act is mostly repealed today, section 2 remains in force and states that anyone convicted of treason shall be disqualified from holding public office, shall lose his right to vote in elections (except in elections to local authorities), and lose his pension (his pension can however be restored, in whole or in part, under section 70 of the Criminal Justice Act 1948).
Section 31 of the Forfeiture Act also abolished the final incarnation of the punishment of being hanged, drawn and quartered, which had been law in various forms since ancient times.




See also


Treason Act 1814
High treason in the United Kingdom
Corruption of Blood Act 1814




Notes






References






External links


Text of the Forfeiture Act 1870 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
Text of the Criminal Justice Act 1948 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. which supplements the Forfeiture Act.

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Forfeiture Act 1870
• Hanged, drawn and quartered
• Crime Museum
• High treason in the United Kingdom
• Treason Act 1351
• Felony
• Suicide Act 1961
• Freehold (law)
• Attainder
• Corruption of Blood Act 1814