---
title: U.S. Const. Amend. VIII. Freedom from Excessive Bail, Excessive Fines, and Cruel and Unusual Punishment
collection: code
id: us-const:amend-viii
cite_as: U.S. Const. Amend. VIII
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date: 2025
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---

# U.S. Const. Amend. VIII. Freedom from Excessive Bail, Excessive Fines, and Cruel and Unusual Punishment

A constitution provision shown as in force is in force as printed in the volume. A court decision can make a printed provision unenforceable without changing the volume, and the volume does not record that.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

## Cross References

Rights protected under amendment generally, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Para. XVII.

Cruel and unusual punishment, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Para. XXI and §§ 38-2-1055, 42-4-5, 42-5-58.

Bail for juveniles, § 15-11-507.

Excessive bail, §§ 17-6-1 et seq., 17-13-36.

Death penalty, § 17-10-30 et seq.

No cruel and unusual punishment in court-martial, § 38-2-1055.

## Editor's Notes

The United States Supreme Court has declared that the due process clause of U.S. Const., amend. 14, protects a person from cruel and unusual punishment inflicted by state, as well as federal, agencies. See Robinson v. California, 370 U.S. 660, 82 S. Ct. 1417, 8 L. Ed. 2d 758 (1962). The Supreme Court has not had occasion to decide if the prohibition against excessive bail is similarly applicable to state proceedings, but the court has intimated that it is. See Schilb v. Kuebel, 404 U.S. 357, 92 S. Ct. 479, 30 L. Ed. 2d 502 (1972). At least one federal court, however, has held that U.S. Const., amend. 8 and the due process clause of U.S. Const., amend. 14, does prohibit excessive bail in state proceedings. See Pilkington v. Circuit Court, 324 F.2d 45 (8th Cir. 1963).


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