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.
See Also
- High-Speed Police Chases
- Police Misconduct & Inmate Abuse: Overview
- Taser Guns
- Breathing: Overview
- Broken Bones: Overview
- Bruises: Overview
- Dislocation: Overview
- Emotional Problems
- Head & Brain Injury
- Heart Attack Lawsuits
- Mouth & Dental Disorders: Overview
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Overview
- Scars: Overview
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Wounds: Overview
- Police Misconduct & Abuse: Frequently Asked Questions