What is the standard for determining whether a sentence is cruel or unusual under the California Constitution?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Woods, D070118 (Cal. App. 2017):

The California standard is similar. " 'To determine whether a sentence is cruel or unusual under the California Constitution as applied to a particular defendant, a reviewing court must examine the circumstances of the offense, including motive, the extent of the defendant's involvement in the crime, the manner in which the crime was committed, and the consequences of the defendant's acts. The court must also consider the personal characteristics of the defendant, including his or her age, prior criminality, and mental capabilities. [Citation.] If the penalty imposed is "grossly disproportionate to the defendant's individual culpability" [citation], so that the punishment " ' "shocks the conscience and offends fundamental notions of human dignity" ' " [citation], the court must invalidate the sentence as unconstitutional.' " (People v. Gonzales (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1234, 1300.) " 'The doctrine of separation of powers is firmly entrenched in the law of California, and a court should not lightly encroach on matters which are uniquely

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