Are unusually long jail sentences considered cruel and unfair?
A friend told me of a man who was sentenced to 240 years in jail. He thought it was funny ans asked if it was possible to overturn the sentence for being cruel and unusual punishment.
Is that possible?
2007-03-21 18:54:47 · 12 answers · asked by The Answer 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Well at least its not a life sentence he STILL has a chance...
2007-03-21 18:57:35 · answer #1 · answered by Barack O Bankrupt 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, excessive sentences can be voided as violating the 8th Amendment provisions.
But only where the sentence is for a single crime. In that case, it was multiple different convictions, each of which carried a mandatory minimum sentence that itself would not be excessive under the 8th Amendment.
Or put another way -- the 8th Amendment only protects you against a single large boulder, not an avalanche of pebbles.
2007-03-22 02:14:53 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Several states (Oklahoma for one) is famous for these.
Usually the person sentenced to that type of prison term has killed multiple persons.
Each person's life is worth a sentence....and 'life' in prison isn't actually until the criminal dies.
This just ensures that the criminal never gets out of prison. So no, it's not cruel and unusual.
The PC people probably wouldn't like a sentence that just says until you are determined to be dead....
2007-03-22 02:04:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No theyre not! Justice should be served for all the wrong doings they have inflicted upon society. However its a shame that street middle class and lower class criminals get sentenced for the crimes whereas the upperclass and organziztions that commit harsher crimes get away with their wrong doings even though it has a larger effect on society. But yes all criminals should be punished no matter the excuse!
2007-03-22 01:59:41 · answer #4 · answered by Laila S 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. If it were cruel and unusual, it wouldn't have been given as a sentence in the first place.
2007-03-22 01:57:02 · answer #5 · answered by spewing_originality 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For non-violent drug offenders, ANY time incarcerated is cruel and unfair. Some particularly heinous examples of American Injustice can be found by clicking below
2007-03-22 02:21:47 · answer #6 · answered by S D Modiano 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am sure there was a good reason why he was able to rack up 240 years. . . . it is NOT cruel or unfair. He probably got 10 years for each kid he molested. . . they guy sentenced was probably a catholic priest. . . .oh that's right, those guys don't serve time for crime. . silly me
2007-03-22 02:04:52 · answer #7 · answered by Rocka 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd rather have them in jail for the rest of their natural life than on death row. I'd say 240 years is more fair than an execution.
2007-03-22 02:03:14 · answer #8 · answered by Joel S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah i head this guy was in for 1000 years or something that might have been a joke but it is funny and the deserve it actually if anyone gets that kind of sentance they should just be tied up outside like a dog.... thats what them japs did back in nam to innocent people
2007-03-22 02:00:13 · answer #9 · answered by i like tacobell 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if this person has committed a very serious crime, instead of putting this person to sleep forever, he/she is only put to live in prison for life, and this, to me, is a very generous and kind treatment. Don't you think so??
2007-03-22 03:04:04 · answer #10 · answered by pdu91214 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋