Civil Rights

When you get hurt because of a police shooting and there is no reason to think you are a serious threat, it is called unjustified deadly force. Law enforcement officers may only use such force when faced with a genuine and immediate threat. This threat must pose a significant danger to their own safety or the safety of others. In these situations, you or your family can legally ask for compensation to make up for the harm and losses you suffered. Legal avenues for victims There are different ways to get justice and compensation if you are a victim of unjustified shooting. One way is to start...

Getting arrested is a frightening experience, but getting detained for no reason is aggravating. Even though humanity has advanced in many ways, there are still occasions when police arrest someone based on their appearance. A person may be able to sue for wrongful arrest if law enforcement restrains them without probable cause. When does wrongful arrest happen? Police cannot arrest you on mere suspicion. They must first have a warrant or probable cause, at the very least, to make an arrest. Probable cause is sufficient evidence that can convince any reasonable officer that the individual in...

According to a report published by Mapping Police Violence, 1,123 died at the hands of the police in 2022. That number forces residents of New York to ask themselves several hard questions, including the viability of changing the way police officers receive training. Is there a way to train police officers to turn away from violence? Current police training As things currently stand, the United States offers no uniform training model for police departments across the nation. Based on national averages, officers receive around three months of training before they begin work. When compared to...

A federal appeals court has ruled that warning others about police activity is a form of speech and protected by the First Amendment. The civil rights case involved a Connecticut man who was arrested in 2018 for holding up a sign that warned motorists about a nearby police checkpoint. The misdemeanor interference charge against the man was later dropped. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the man’s arrest and the confiscation of his sign and cellphone violated rights protected by the First and Fourth Amendments. District Court Dismisses lawsuit The man filed a civil...

If you believe that you have been the victim of malicious prosecution in terms of your civil rights, there are several ways that you can seek remedy in New York. Proving malice One way to seek remedy is by filing a lawsuit against the individual or entity that is alleged to have wrongfully initiated the prosecution. In this lawsuit, you must prove that the prosecution was pursued without probable cause and with malice. If you can prove this, the individual or entity could be liable for damages. Filing a complaint Another way to seek remedy is by filing a complaint with the appropriate...