A state enacts a statute that imposes a mandatory death sentence for individuals convicted of theft involving property valued at over $1,000. John is convicted of stealing a laptop worth $1,200. He challenges his sentence, claiming it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Which of the following is the most likely outcome of John's challenge?
The court will declare the mandatory death sentence unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment.
The court will require the jury to consider mitigating factors before deciding on the death sentence.
The court will reduce the sentence to life imprisonment without parole.
The court will uphold the mandatory death sentence as a valid punishment for theft above the specified value.
The mandatory death sentence for theft of property over $1,000 is disproportionate and violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Capital punishment is generally reserved for the most severe crimes, such as murder, not property crimes.
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What are mitigating factors, and how do they relate to sentencing?