Cruel and Unusual Punishment: A Definition & History What these words should mean is the subject of much legal argument. In general, the interpretation is that the "punishment should fit the crime".

The term "cruel" is hard to define because all punishments are by their nature cruel to some degree. The unusual" part has proven easier to interpret. One interpretation is that people will not be subjected to punishment that is arbitrary, or not fitting or connected to the crime. Also, punishment should not be torture or be "unusual".
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