Question

In your estimation, what is the relationship between race, socio-economic status and cruel and unusual punishment? Consider the history of the United States and the 8th Amendment in your response. Cite your sources

Answer 1

First lets have a look at the meaning of these different terms----------------------

1. Race---- The term race refers to groups of people having differences in their biological traits and similarities deemed by society to be socially significant, meaning that people treat other people differently because of them.
2. SES---- Socio-economic status is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person's work experience and of an individual's or family's economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education, and occupation.
3. Cruel--- Willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.
4. Unusual punishment----- Clause measures a particular punishment against society's prohibition against inhuman treatment.

Relationship B/W

Race, socio-economic status-------------

We consider “race” as primarily a social category that encompasses what is commonly referred to as ethnicity - common geographic origins, ancestry, family patterns, cultural norms and traditions, and the social history of specific groups. Socioeconomic status is obviously related to race and ethnicity in the United States, but the role of socioeconomic factors as a cause of racial health differences is complex. Ambiguity also surrounds the mechanisms through which socio-economic status promotes racial differences in health. The issue of whether members of all ethnic groups are able to equally translate increases in socio-economic status into health improvements has been raised. For instance, while differences and similarities in eye color have not been treated as socially significant, differences and similarities in skin color have.

Cruel and unusual punishment-------------

In attending to define cruel and unusual punishment, federal courts have generally analyzed two aspects of punishment: the method and the amount.Punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. Cruel and unusual punishment includestorture, deliberately degrading punishment, or punishment that is to severe for the crime committed.  As to the method of punishment, the Eighth Amendment clearly bars punishmentsthat were considered cruel at the time of its Adoption, such as crucifixion, burning at the stake, or breaking on the wheel.

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