Curated OER
The Final Question
Young scholars analyze their own feelings about the death penalty before considering court cases involving the death penalty. They determine what their definition is of cruel and unusual punishment, and analyze how different states...
Curated OER
The Juvenile Death Penalty
Sensitive material is discussed in this lesson plan. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. The topic is the Eighth Amendment and how the U.S. Supreme Court makes determinations about what constitutes cruel...
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Furman v. Georgia (1972)
Offers the complete text of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Furman v. Georgia. This case deals with the issues of death penalty and cruel and unusual punishment.
Other
San Francisco Unified School District: Bill of Rights
A collection of resources for learning and teaching about the Bill of Rights. Includes ideas for projects, links for the First to Eighth Amendments, videos, resources on significant Supreme Court cases, and histories of the Amendments....
Other
Justia: Us Supreme Court: Furman v. Georgia, 408 u.s. 238 (1972)
Court documents of a case challenging the death penalty as constituting "cruel and unusual punishment" and violating the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Includes link to audio file of oral argument.
Lectric Law Library
The 'Lectric Law Library's Lexicon: Eighth Amendment
This definition page at 'Lectric Library discusses the definition in the context of significant Supreme Court cases.
Other
The Eighth Amendment
This is a student essay on the question of whether capital punishment is "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment.
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Eighth Amendment Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases [Pdf]
This resource provides the various court rulings as to what has been interpreted as "excessive bail", etc.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez Project: Robinson v. California (1962)
A brief summary of the case where Supreme Court concluded that it is "cruel and unusual" punishment to convict someone of being addicted to the use of narcotics.
Lectric Law Library
The 'Lectric Law Library: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
This is the "Lectric Law Library's definition of the term with reference to relevant court cases.
University of California
Back on the Chain Gang
This is a very short article but is an argument against the chain gang as a method of punishment, an idea that is regaining popularity.