Six Types of Police Misconduct to Watch Out For
Police officers are supposed to be responsible for maintaining public safety, investigating crimes, and apprehending criminals, all while respecting the rights of citizens. However, police officers will sometimes act in a manner unbecoming of their profession, resulting in unnecessary and avoidable harm. Here are six types of police misconduct you should watch out for if you ever have an interaction with law enforcement:
- Use of excessive force
- One of the most common forms of police misconduct comes from the use of excessive force. This is when an officer uses violent force to detain or restrain a suspect far beyond what is actually necessary, resulting in undue harm to the suspect. This can result in severe injuries, or in some cases, may even result in a suspect’s death, before they have even been formally charged with a crime.
- Racial profiling
- Another shockingly common form of police misconduct is the use of racial profiling. This is when a police officer specifically targets someone based on their apparent race or ethnicity, subjecting them to interrogation, search, seizure, or arrest. This can result in significant violations of someone’s civil and constitutional rights, and even put them in danger of prosecution for no reason.
- Witness tampering
- When people think of witness tampering, they may imagine corrupt lawyers or shady criminals trying to intimidate witnesses into silence. However, some police officers will exert their influence on witnesses as well, convincing them to testify in a certain way that is beneficial to them. This type of police misconduct can be used to further a legally shaky prosecution, or to prevent witnesses from reporting other types of misconduct.
- Unlawful search and seizure
- Police are prohibited from performing an unreasonable search and seizure without probable cause, according to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, police will sometimes conduct a search of a person’s belongings or residence without a valid reason, or even seize property without it actually being evidence of a crime. Even if you are not prosecuted, you can still have your privacy violated and your property taken by police.
- Coerced confessions
- When people are arrested and interrogated by the police, they can face extraordinary pressure to confess to a crime, regardless of whether they actually did anything wrong. When interrogators cannot get a confession through conventional means, they may resort to illegal methods, like denying access to food or water, or preventing someone from using the bathroom. This type of police misconduct is incredibly effective at coercing confessions, and may lead to a false prosecution.
- Malicious prosecution
- This type of police misconduct comes about when a police officer or prosecutor chooses to bring a criminal case despite a lack of evidence of a crime. Even if a case is ultimately thrown out, it can lead to substantial civil rights violations, lost income, and reputational damage. When a malicious prosecution results in a conviction or plea deal, the damage can potentially last a lifetime.
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