Rhodes v. Chapman
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Summary

This Supreme Court case held that prison conditions violate the Eighth Amendment only if they cause unnecessary and wanton pain or are grossly disproportionate to the crime’s severity.

1981 | Federal Juristiction

Rhodes v. Chapman

Keywords prison conditions; Eighth Amendment; unnecessary pain; wanton pain; disproportionate; crime severity
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Summary

The U.S. Supreme Court has adjudicated that conditions within correctional facilities contravene the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution exclusively when such conditions impose excessive and arbitrary suffering, or when they are overwhelmingly disproportionate to the gravity of the offense.

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Summary

A Supreme Court case determined that the conditions within prisons violate the Eighth Amendment only if they cause pain that is unnecessary and cruel, or if these conditions are vastly disproportionate to the seriousness of the crime committed.

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Summary

A Supreme Court decision determined that conditions within prisons violate the Eighth Amendment only when they inflict pain that is needless and cruel, or if they are considerably too harsh when compared to the seriousness of the offense committed.

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Summary

The country's highest court made a decision. It said that conditions in prison are against the law only if they cause pain that is not needed or is very cruel. It also said conditions are against the law if the punishment is much too harsh for the crime.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

452 U.S. 337 (1981)

Highlights