The Sanders Firm, P.C.: The Eighth Amendment and the Courts
Eighth Amendment rights are extremely important to The Sanders Firm, P.C., because a violation of these rights means that a court has weakened the freedom of an individual. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. Its protections are important as they ensure that any punishment imposed against a person is fair and humane. This major part of our civil liberties defines our nation as one that is concerned about justice and fairness for all, including those charged with or convicted of a crime.
Eighth Amendment Protections
What the Eight Amendment does is it gives each individual the benefit of the doubt. Those accused of a crime are seen as being just that, “accused.” Thus, bail is not to be something that should cripple a person financially or in any practical manner. Fines, which would be imposed after someone is found guilty, are designed to punish but they also must be fair. This eradicates fines that are retaliatory, designed to damage one’s ability to earn a living, or that may simply go too far in punishing someone for a particular offense. In addition, it keeps in check the governments’ potential for fining people excessive amounts to simply raise revenue.
“Cruel and unusual punishments” may not be inflicted either. This phrase is seen as a reference to torture, which in essence was banned by the amendment. A society that believes in justice is one that is able to extract justice and punish individuals in a humane manner. The amendment calls for a balanced approach when punishing someone convicted of a crime.
