8th Amendment: Cruel and unusual punishments

Branding(hot iron) Strangling The amendment states that “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”. This means that punishments must be fair, cannot be cruel, and that fines that are extraordinarily large cannot be set. Not Allowed Branding(hot iron) Strangling Disemboweling(cut and open organs) Burning

Troy Leon Gregg was convicted of armed robbery and murder and sentenced with death for both crimes. He appealed to the Supreme Court on the grounds that death was a cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the eighth amendment.The court ruled that the death penalty was legal for murder. The case was again appealed to the Supreme Court. The 8th Amendment incorporated a "basic concept of dignity," which was consistent with the purpose of deterrence and of retribution. As long as it was proportional to the severity of the crime, the death penalty was not unconstitutional. Atkins v. Virginia (2002)

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