Eighth Amendment by Nira Shakeri (LMS)

8th amendment

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:21:31 UTC

8th amendment: The right to mercy

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:25:58 UTC

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

Basically this means that the punishment should match the crime, bail should not be too much for the crime and cruel/unusual punishments are not allowed.

Burned at the stake:

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:31:21 UTC

In 1825 a south carolina man was burned at the stake. This was the last time any criminal in the U.S was given that punishment. This punishment was decided to be unconstitutional because it violated the 8th amendment.

Court case: Roper vs Simmons (2005)

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:36:50 UTC

Christopher Simmons was sentenced to death, when he was only 17. A series of appeals to state and federal courts lasted until 2002, but each appeal was rejected. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing the mentally disabled, violated the Eighth amendment prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment because a majority of Americans found it cruel and unusual, the Missouri Supreme Court decided to reconsider Simmons' case. In 2005 the supreme court decided that executing minors was unconstitutional.

Current event:

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:41:33 UTC

Recently multiple protest have occurred about the death penalty. People say that the death penalty is unconstitutional and violates the 8th amendment.

Political cartoon:

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:44:01 UTC

Political cartoon

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:45:19 UTC

Electric chair:

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:49:44 UTC

The electric chair works by sending to jolts of electricity into the prisoner. The first, more powerful is intended to cause unconsciousness. The second, less powerful jolt is intended to cause lethal damage to the vital organs. It is only used in 4 states today because most have decided that this type of punishment is cruel and unusual.

Current event:

365966_ — 2024-02-14 18:55:45 UTC

In 2022, the Federal Court determined that the conditions in the South Compound Prison in Louisiana were so severe that they violated the Eighth Amendment due to hundreds of men being held in solitary confinement e prison's mental health system and that prison officials violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.The court found that the prison’s use of strip cell status serves to inflict mental and physical torture.

8th amendment: Daily life

365966_ — 2024-02-15 17:03:54 UTC

The Eighth amendment helps protect the rights of people convicted by making sure that they receive fair punishments for their actions. In addition to helping criminals the eighth amendment also protects the rights people in everyday situations such as making sure parking tickets fines are fair. This is important to today because everyone deserves to be treated fairly. If we did not have the eight amendment criminals may still be facing excessive fines, cruel punishments and life would overall be worse.

Court Case: City of Columbus vs Freeman

365966_ — 2024-02-15 17:09:30 UTC

Kim Freeman was arrested in 2005 and, along with her codefendants, was charged with operating a house of prostitution in the city of Columbus. Even though Freeman was not considered dangerous, the State asked for a high bail amount, stating that they believed Freeman to be a high flight risk. The judge complied and set bail at $1 billion. Freemans case was reheard and eventually the bail amount was set to $10 million dollars

Political cartoon

365966_ — 2024-02-15 17:18:04 UTC

The Eighth Amendment:

365966_ — 2024-02-15 17:22:26 UTC

While the eighth amendment may not be as important or relevant to daily life as some amendments, it is still an important and necessary amendment.