The Bill of Rights promises that punishment for a crime cannot be cruel or unusual, meaning that it cannot be painful or degrading to the person's dignity. What punishment would be considered cruel and unusual? Someone who commits assault is beaten as punishment. Someone caught shoplifting is made to pay a fine and write an apology. Someone caught driving while drunk is punished by revoking driving privileges. Someone caught littering is punished by being made to pick up trash on the highway.