The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) captured the violent gang leader Baby Face Smith. Baby Face Smith is in charge of the UCLA Chemistry Crips science gang, which is known for killing members of the Biology Bloods. However, instead of the police taking Baby Face Smith to jail to be booked and arraigned before a magistrate, they took him to a building and began to beat him while he was handcuffed. They then tortured him and waterboarded him in an effort to get the names and locations of everyone in his gang.

Question

The LAPD officers violated which of the following Amendments?

a
10th Amendment
b
3rd Amendment
c
1st Amendment
d
8th Amendment

Answer 1

The LAPD officers' actions in this scenario would most directly violate the 8th Amendment. The 8th Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, which includes torture and excessive force. The treatment of Baby Face Smith, as described, constitutes such violations. Therefore, the correct answer is:

d 8th Amendment