A boy, age twelve, had friends who convinced him to carry a gun to a robbery. No one was injured in the robbery, and the boy never used the weapon. However, the boy was caught and charged with a crime. At trial, a judge sentences the boy to life in prison.How can the boy’s counsel use the Eighth Amendment to support his case? Give your response in at least two complete sentences.

Question

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The boy’s counsel can argue that sentencing a twelve-year-old to life in prison for a non-homicide crime violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. They would argue that the sentence is significantly disproportionate to the crime, especially given the defendant's young age and the fact that no one was injured during the robbery.

Your Rights: Trials and Punishments

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