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The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the imposition of cruel and unusual punishments.  The Eighth Amendment also bars “”excessive”” punishment that is not graduated and proportioned to the offense.  Courts must look to prevailing societal standards of decency when determining the Constitutional definition of ““excessive.””  In Atkins v. Virginia, the Court considered whether a “”national consensus”” existed with regard to the execution of mentally retarded offenders, thus making such executions a violation of the Eighth Amendment’’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.  The Court held that a ““national consensus”” reflected that the execution of mentally retarded criminals did not advance the goals of retribution and deterrence and thus was cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment. . . .