Amendment VIII

Amendment VIII

     Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

     Bail is a compromise that needs to assure that the accused show up for trial while allowing them to take care of family or conduct other necessary business obligations. These guarantees are not to be excessive by the eighth. Bail is reasonably proportionate to crime and insures that the accused will return for trial. This is not a right, the judge can deny for capital and violent crimes if accused poses a serious risk of flight or other reasons set by law. The eighth amendment protects from cruel and unusual punishment. Unusual punishment is punishment that the court has never imposed before and seems awkward.



     This picture demonstrates cruel and unusual punishment. This type of punishment would have never been used if the incident that caused this person to get this punishment happened during my time. This punishment would be considered awkward and not accepted.

 

 

     This is another picture that shows an old fashioned chair that was used to electrocute people for punishment back in the day. If you have seen the movie "Green Mile" then you have seen the use of this. This use of punishment would go against the eighth amendment because it would be considered cruel and unusual.