Excessive bails, excessive fines, and cruel punishments?
In July 1994, Jerry Dewayne Williams was arrested and charged with robbery after he stole pizza slices from children in Redondo Beach, CA. Williams was convicted on felony charges since his victims were minors. Under California's "three strikes" law, Williams received a sentence of 25 years to life. After the conviction, Williams; lawyer appealed arguing that the sentence of Williams received was unusually long and not proportional to the crime committed. (Bill of Rights)
What right is granted to Williams?
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
-Bill of Rights, Amendment 8
An contemporary news article that relates to the powers or rights in the scenario can be found here.
Terrance Graham was a 16 year old teen that took part in a series of violent robberies while on parole for another felony. In order to punish him for his crimes, the state had sentenced Graham to prison for life without any chance of release. Graham viewed the verdict as a cruel and unusual punishment unfitting for a minor and appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled the punishment as unjustified and unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote. The justices believed that crimes committed before an age of maturity could be caused by peer pressure and that offenders might not know any better.
Based on the Bills of Rights passage above, we know that Amendment 8 gives us the right to fair punishments. In the news article, the teen appealed to the Supreme Court because the states passed down a cruel and unusual punishment. The news article stated that the teen was sentenced to life in prison without any chances to redeem himself. This is unfair and cruel because offenders before an age of maturity will be subjected to peer pressure or may lack full culpability for their early age. With the rights granted by the eighth amendment in the Bills of Rights, Graham was able to appeal to the Supreme Court to get a fairer punishment.
Political Cartoon
What right is granted to Williams?
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
-Bill of Rights, Amendment 8
An contemporary news article that relates to the powers or rights in the scenario can be found here.
Terrance Graham was a 16 year old teen that took part in a series of violent robberies while on parole for another felony. In order to punish him for his crimes, the state had sentenced Graham to prison for life without any chance of release. Graham viewed the verdict as a cruel and unusual punishment unfitting for a minor and appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled the punishment as unjustified and unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote. The justices believed that crimes committed before an age of maturity could be caused by peer pressure and that offenders might not know any better.
Based on the Bills of Rights passage above, we know that Amendment 8 gives us the right to fair punishments. In the news article, the teen appealed to the Supreme Court because the states passed down a cruel and unusual punishment. The news article stated that the teen was sentenced to life in prison without any chances to redeem himself. This is unfair and cruel because offenders before an age of maturity will be subjected to peer pressure or may lack full culpability for their early age. With the rights granted by the eighth amendment in the Bills of Rights, Graham was able to appeal to the Supreme Court to get a fairer punishment.
Political Cartoon
The artist of the political cartoon is criticizing Clinton for being inhumane and hypocritical. America, a country with ideologies of freedom, is given a bad reputation in the newspaper for using torture. The eighth amendment in the Bill of Rights prohibits the government for using cruel and unusual punishments. However, we can see that Lady Liberty is depressed because Clinton used torture, a cruel punishment, betraying American ideologies. In addition, the artist emphasizes Clinton's hypocritical and inhumane ways by giving him weapons and other nasty instruments of torture.
In the Bill of Rights, the eighth amendment states that cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted. However, torture is a cruel and unusual punishment. In the political cartoon, we can see that Clinton violated the eighth amendment of the Bill of Rights since he is holding instruments of torture. On the right, we can see Lady Liberty in a depressing state because one of America's leader violated their own ideals in the Bill of Rights.
In the Bill of Rights, the eighth amendment states that cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted. However, torture is a cruel and unusual punishment. In the political cartoon, we can see that Clinton violated the eighth amendment of the Bill of Rights since he is holding instruments of torture. On the right, we can see Lady Liberty in a depressing state because one of America's leader violated their own ideals in the Bill of Rights.