Which of the following is not allowed under Amendment VIII?

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, as well as excessive fines and bail. Understanding the context of the amendment helps clarify why life imprisonment for non-violent crimes is not aligned with its intended protections.

The Eighth Amendment focuses on safeguarding individuals from punishment that is disproportionate to the offense or serves no legitimate penological purpose. While the amendment does not explicitly address life imprisonment as a punishment for non-violent crimes, there is a growing body of jurisprudence and public opinion that argues such penalties may be excessive or harsh, especially in the absence of a violent act. This suggests that sentencing someone to life in prison for a non-violent crime could be seen as an extreme response, potentially violating the spirit of the Eighth Amendment.

In contrast, the other options provided either do not violate the principles embodied in the Eighth Amendment or reflect societal and legal norms that are generally accepted, such as reasonable bail and the concept of unequal treatment based on wealth, which while problematic, does not fall squarely under the prohibitions of the Eighth Amendment in its wording. Therefore, option C stands out as the one that does not conform to the Eighth Amendment's intent to protect against excessive punishment.