What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically prohibits the infliction of cruel and unusual punishment. This provision was designed to protect individuals from excessively harsh penalties that do not align with the severity of the crime committed. The framers of the Constitution were influenced by Enlightenment principles that emphasized human rights and dignity, which is why the amendment safeguards against torturous or excessively disproportionate punishments.

The other options pertain to different constitutional protections. Unreasonable search and seizure is outlined in the Fourth Amendment, the right to a trial by jury is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, and protection against forced testimony enters into the Fifth Amendment's rights, particularly relating to self-incrimination. Each of these rights serves a different purpose within the framework of American law, highlighting various aspects of personal freedoms and legal protections, but only the Eighth Amendment addresses the issue of punishment specifically.