What does the 8th Amendment protect individuals against?

The 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically protects individuals from cruel and unusual punishment. This means that it prohibits the government from imposing excessively harsh penalties or inhumane treatment on individuals, especially those who have been convicted of crimes. The intention behind this amendment is to ensure that punishments are proportional to the offenses committed and to abolish forms of punishment that are deemed torturous or degrading.

This fundamental protection underscores the importance of human dignity and the principle of fairness in the judicial system. The language used in the amendment has been the subject of various legal interpretations and Supreme Court rulings, which have helped define what constitutes "cruel and unusual."

The other options listed pertain to different amendments or rights. For instance, unreasonable searches fall under the 4th Amendment, self-incrimination is covered by the 5th Amendment, and the right to bear arms is associated with the 2nd Amendment. Each of these protects distinct aspects of individual rights, separate from the focus of the 8th Amendment on punishment.