The 8th Amendment
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Bill of Rights states......
"excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
What does this mean?
If you go to jail, and someone comes to bail you out what should be a $80 fine turns out to be a $400 fine, that would be unlawful. No cruel and unusual punishment: Only give out the right punishment. For example if you shoplift you cant get sentenced to the death penalty.CAN NOT TORTURE PEOPLE!
What does the 8th Amendment Protect us from?
Excessive fines and bails
Example: If you go to jail, and you want to be released until your court date you pay a bail. But if they make your bail $1 million dollars you cant pay. And that is excessive (too much) and unfair.
Example: Speeding Ticket.
Cruel or Unusual Punishment
Example: Burning, Beating, Killing, Electric Chair, whips, or any type of torture.
How could our lives be different without the 8th amendment?
This would make a huge change in community and the way we live. People such as police, people who lock people up, or just about anybody especially with a position of authority could torture people. They could beat them, kill, or any position of torture they would like.