"Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed, or cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" (8th Amendment).
This political cartoon shows how prison's were going to give cruel and unusual punishment to prisoners, such as an electric chair when they acted up, but the Warden was probably told (by the Government) that they cannot give brutal punishments after the 8th Amendment was passed.
This article shows how prison's give inmates some type of disgusting meatloaf when they "act up". Prison officials thought that feeding the inmates this disgusting food would make the inmates“penitent,” which would then make them reflect on their offenses and become better people. This article relates to the right because it shows how prisons are violating the right. Feeding the prisoners this food to make them "better people" is cruel and unusual, thats not like any other punishment, they need something that will actually better them as a human being, not make them throw up.