Officer brutality has steadily been increasing for the past five years, accumulating to a record 21 police officers being indicted for manslaughter or murder in 2021. The aggression being shown by police officers across the country is understandably making citizens fear for their safety.
With such a high rate of officer misconduct, you need to be aware of your rights. If you have been a victim of brutality, you need to speak with personal injury lawyers.
What is Officer Brutality?
Police brutality is the unlawful use of force by a police officer, which may result in death, injury, and devastation. It can include beatings, tortures, unlawful killings, and other methods to control riots or protests.
According to Amnesty International, police officers are quick to use force to break up protests and demonstrations, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and other extreme measures.
Victims of police brutality suffer from severe injuries and even death. Unfortunately, police officers are seldom held accountable for their actions.
What are the Causes of Police Brutality?
Many cases of police brutality can be linked to one or a combination of the following factors:
Lack of Adequate Training
In the course of the police academy, officers are trained to shoot before they can fully analyze a given situation. Police officers are shown dash-com footage of police officers hesitating and being beaten by their detainees. This video footage is frightening to officers, and they might fear for their own lives in the course of duty. This raw fear causes officers to reach for their guns before they think.
Lack of Accountability
Few police officers in the country are indicted for manslaughter or murder. With a very low conviction rate, officers don’t see a need to change their behavior since they will most likely not face any consequences.
Racial Profiling
Police officers are trained to use excessive and even lethal force on people of color. This has become a staggering problem since the 1991 beating of Rodney King.
Police officers tend to apprehend people of black, Hispanic, and Asian descent more often than Caucasian people. Racial profiling has grown into a looming problem that threatens our nation’s democracy.
How Can You Protect Your Civil Rights?
There are a few strategies that can be implemented to protect your rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) proposes organizing a civilian review board to monitor police activity.
The board will complete investigations into police activity based on residents’ complaints.
By 1975, more than 80 cities across the United States had civilian review boards in place.
Although there are legal hurdles to overcome, you can file a lawsuit against a police officer who uses excessive force. Police brutality is often a violation of one’s Fourth Amendment Constitutional right from unreasonable search and seizure by the government.
Excessive force claims are often tried in federal court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 “Section 1983.” A PI lawyer will be able to assist you in filing your civil rights claim and bringing the respective police officer to justice.
A Police Brutality Lawyer Asking the Hard Questions
As citizens, we rely on police officers to protect us and to comply with the law. Police misconduct is becoming a growing problem in our nation. Police officers who have resorted to brutal measures have caused devastating injuries and have taken the lives of innocent people.
If you have fallen victim to this injustice, you need the El Paso lawyers to review your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Author
Kirk Mathis specializes in cases involving automobile collisions, truck wrecks, medical malpractice, product liability, environmental damage, insurance claims, and premises liability. Mr. Mathis is licensed to practice in Texas as well as Federal Court in the Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, District of Colorado, and the Central District of Illinois.
