<P> The Eighth Amendment ( Amendment VIII ) of the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail , excessive fines , or cruel and unusual punishment . The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this amendment 's Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause also applies to the states . The phrases in this amendment originated in the English Bill of Rights of 1689 . This amendment was adopted on December 15 , 1791 , along with the rest of the United States Bill of Rights . </P>
how does the eighth amendment protect people found guilty of crimes
prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail , excessive fines , or cruel and unusual punishment