The U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment: Bail, Fines, and Punishments

The U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment: Bail, Fines, and Punishments is an in-depth exploration of the Eighth Amendment’s pivotal role in American jurisprudence. This comprehensive casebook is the very first of its kind, dedicated entirely to the Eighth Amendment, with every relevant Supreme Court precedent included to 2025.

The book delves into the intricacies of bail, fines, and punishments litigation, featuring key excerpts from landmark Supreme Court cases that have defined the Amendment over the past 200 years. This work examines the historical context and evolving interpretations of the Amendment, starting with its origin in English Law and highlighting the impact of Supreme Court jurisprudence on the wider justice system. Through expert analysis of major cases, the book reveals how the Eighth Amendment shapes debates on relevant issues, providing unique insights into cases and addressing contemporary issues like racial bias in sentencing, the vanishing applicability of the death penalty, the importance of age in sentencing and punishment, and solitary confinement.

Ideal for legal scholars, practitioners, and anyone interested in constitutional law, this is a vital resource for understanding one of the Constitution’s most essential protections.

Charlie Eastaugh holds a First Class Honours degree (LLB) in English Law and a Ph.D. in U.S. Constitutional Law. His first book, Unconstitutional Solitude, focusing on the legality of long-term solitary.