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.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Eighth Amendment
This resource contains the text of the Eighth Amendment and legal annotations.
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.
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.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Eighth Amendment
Resource on the 8th Amendment from Annenberg Classroom Institute for Civics Education. Provides the text and summary of the 8th Amendment with links to related material.
Read Works
Read Works: American Government the Bill of Rights Part Ii
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage explains a few parts of the Bill of Rights. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Annotation 3: Eighth Amendment
This particular page of annotations on the Eighth Amendment discusses the background and intended meaning of the phrase "cruel and unsual punishment".
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.