Date: September 18, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Heelan Hall 098

The Eighth Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution protects against “cruel and unusual punishment” for those convicted of crimes. But what makes a punishment cruel or unusual? Who decides, and how? This film explores the concept of “evolving standards of decency,” specifically as it applies to the death penalty for juvenile offenders.

The video is part of the Annenberg Classroom Constitution Project

Sponsored by BCU’s Department of History and Political Science