Police Misconduct: Overview
The "war on crime" that is fought by police on the streets is far too often waged against innocent individuals unaware of, or intimidated into surrendering, their constitutional rights. Some commentators fault government's characterization of police officers as soldiers fighting a "war" as one that encourages excessive police violence and brutal military tactics. The overwhelming majority of the 19,000 police officers in the United States practice sound law enforcement techniques. Unfortunately, there are more than a handful of officers and departments that do not.
Some common forms of police abuse include excessive use of deadly force, excessive use of physical force, discriminatory patterns of arrest, patterns of harassment of vulnerable groups, discriminatory use of the "stop-and-frisk," overly harsh enforcement of petty offenses, verbal abuse, discriminatory non-enforcement of the law, harassment of political activists, retaliation against officers who report abuse and / or support reforms, overreaction to gang problems, illegal mass stops and arrests, demanding photo IDs from young men based on their race and dress instead of on their criminal conduct, failure to discipline or prosecute abusive officers, failure to deter abuse, and crowd control tactics that infringe on free expression rights and lead to unnecessary use of physical force.
If you have been the victim of police misconduct, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.
Attorneys associated with InjuryBoard.com will evaluate your case free of charge. In addition, you will not pay any fees or costs unless your attorney recovers money for you. Please click on the free Ask An Attorney button to take advantage of this valuable service.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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