Communities count on police to protect them from harm. Unfortunately, some police officers will abuse the trust and authority placed in them, committing excessively violent acts against criminal suspects and innocent civilians alike. This is known as police brutality, and you should learn to watch for the signs of police exceeding their legal authority.
What is Police Brutality?
In simple terms, police brutality is when police violate the rights of an individual or group by using excessive force in the course of their duties. Force is “excessive” when the amount or type used go beyond what is reasonably necessary to deal with a given situation. An action that is potentially reasonable in one situation may be considered excessive in another.
What Does Police Brutality Look Like?
Police brutality can take many potential forms. This includes, but is not limited to:
- The use of violent restraint against a suspect who is not resisting arrest
- Using prohibited forms of restraint, such as chokeholds
- Beating a suspect who is already in custody
- Using torture to extract a confession from a suspect
- Sexually assaulting a suspect or witness
- Engaging in racial abuse against a suspect or civilians
- Use of tear gas, stun grenades, and other riot control tools when no riot is occurring
- Unlawfully killing a suspect who posed no danger to the officer or others
Why Do the Police Engage in Brutality?
Law enforcement will engage in police brutality for a number of reasons. They may lack training in how to appropriately apprehend suspects without use of excessive force, or they may be subtly or overtly encouraged to use violence by their peers or superiors. They are also more likely to use excessive force if they believe there will be no real penalty for doing so, such as if they engaged in that behavior in the past and were not disciplined for it. Regardless, force is excessive based on the circumstances of the situation, not the intent of the officer.
What Should You Do if You Are the Victim of Police Brutality?
If you or someone you love has been the victim of police brutality, you may have a number of legal options open to you to seek justice for the harm you have suffered. However, the best way to know what you can do is to speak to a lawyer with experience handling police misconduct and other civil rights claims. They can help create a litigation strategy for you, and ensure you get the best possible outcome for your case.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.