Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

What kind of punishment does the 8th Amendment prohibit?

1. Long prison sentences without parole

2. Cruel and unusual punishment

3. Mandatory minimum sentences

4. Community service as administrative punishment

The correct answer is: Cruel and unusual punishment

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution explicitly prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment." This foundational principle aims to ensure that the punishment fits the crime and reflects a basic standard of human dignity. It has been interpreted by courts to forbid not only physical torture and barbaric practices but also certain conditions of confinement and overly harsh sentencing that may be deemed degrading or inhumane. While other options touch on aspects of punishment, they do not encapsulate the core essence of what the Eighth Amendment specifically forbids. Long prison sentences without the possibility of parole, mandatory minimum sentences, and community service as a form of administrative punishment do not, in themselves, constitute cruel and unusual punishment as defined under the Eighth Amendment. The amendment focuses more on the nature and quality of punishment rather than the length or type of sentence imposed, making "cruel and unusual punishment" the correct and precise choice.