Eighth Amendment Law - Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The Eighth Amendment protects citizens from ‘cruel and unusual punishment’. This broad wording has led to debate regarding punishment, from the death penalty to inedible prison food. Learn more here.
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The Long Battle of the Death Penalty Appeal
The death penalty is used for the most aggravated of crimes to deter and prevent the same actions occurring again in the future. However, when the person on death row is actually innocent of his or her crimes, an appeal could provide a positive result that leads to a conviction overturned, a stay, or even exoneration.
Read moreCan Bad Food Be a Violation of the Eighth Amendment Prohibition of Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
For those who have never been to prison, considerations of prison food are probably not high on the list of concerns about prison conditions. But, many a prisoner has suffered through daily rations of “nutriloaf” and probably has a very different take on the matter.
Read moreDeath Penalty Appeals Process
When the death penalty has been invoked for as punishment for a lost case, the appeals process may be the only saving grace to overturn or stay the conviction for the individual sentenced. Through proper legal representation and proof to assist in the appeal, the convicted person may follow through and remove the death penalty from its conclusion.
Read moreWhat Can I Do if my Spouse or Friend Is Not Receiving Proper Medical Treatment while Incarcerated?
While the rights of people while imprisoned are fewer than those of free citizens, inmates still have many rights. This includes the right to medical treatment for physical and psychological needs.
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