During the 20th century, judicial birching was used primarily as a punishment for male juveniles convicted of relatively minor offenses like petty larceny, rather than as a serious penalty for adult men. For example, in 1897, a fifteen-year-old boy named William Picton received twelve strokes of the birch for breaking into a shop and stealing cigarettes. By the 1960s, the practice had become highly controversial. A notable case involved four 19-year-old Glasgow youths who were each given nine strokes of the birch on the Isle of Man, with reports describing them as "babbling cowards" after the experience. A 1966 debate in the UK Parliament saw some members calling for the return of birching for crimes of violence, while others argued that it would only increase a criminal's hatred towards society.

As society continues to evolve, the conversation around these issues will likely shift, reflecting changing values, new research findings, and a deeper understanding of human behavior and psychology. Ultimately, finding a balance between discipline and compassion, while ensuring the protection of human rights, remains a significant challenge for judicial systems around the world.

Several authors are prolific within this genre. In addition to Frank Martinet, authors like Joy Peters and Anthony Alba produce numerous works under the LSF Publications imprint, with their stories exploring themes of judicial and reformatory discipline.

The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which many countries are parties, prohibits practices that could be considered forms of corporal punishment.

The specific case of Jessica and Amy Repack brings to the fore the complexities and controversies surrounding judicial corporal punishment. While details about the case are not extensively documented, it serves as a focal point to discuss the broader implications of such punishment.