Debating the Eighth Amendment and Status Crimes

The chapter delves into a legal debate surrounding the Eighth Amendment and its application to status crimes, using homelessness as a key example. It contrasts differing arguments on whether certain statuses should be criminally punished, and discusses the potential ramifications of Supreme Court decisions on this issue. The discussion highlights the complexities of interpreting the Eighth Amendment in relation to criminalizing status and the arguments for and against such actions.