Top Palo Alto, CA Police Misconduct Lawyers Near You

What Is Police Misconduct?

Police misconduct affects thousands of Americans every year when officers engage in wrongful action during the course of their duties. It can take many forms, including:

• Excessive force and police brutality
• Sexual assault and harassment
• False arrest
• Racial profiling
• Witness tampering or intimidation
• Unlawful searches and seizures
• Coercing confessions
• Filing false reports
• Extortion

Who Investigates Police Misconduct?

The investigating body generally depends on where or how your report the police misconduct. Police misconduct investigations may be conducted by local or state police departments, federal law enforcement agencies, internal affairs departments, local, state or federal civil rights divisions, state attorney general or governor’s office. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also assists with reporting and conducting investigations into police misconduct and brutality as well.

How Do You Report Police Misconduct?

Generally, there are three ways of reporting police misconduct: internal complaints to the department, criminal complaints, or civil lawsuits. Internal complaints involve reporting the misconduct of an officer to the chief of their police department or head of their law enforcement agency. Some misconduct may constitute criminal conduct which you can report to a police department or law enforcement agency. Finally, filing a civil lawsuit against the officer who committed the misconduct or the department may be an option to recover monetary damages.

What Qualifies as Police Misconduct?

There are a number of illegal acts or forms of inappropriate conduct a police officer may take that constitutes misconduct, such as coercing a false confession, making a false arrest or falsely imprisoning a person, conducting an unlawful search, unlawfully seizing property, unlawful surveillance, falsifying, tampering, or stealing evidence, intimidation or tampering with a witness, or excessive force, among many other acts of misconduct.

Can You Report Police Misconduct Anonymously?

While you may report or send tips of police misconduct anonymously, oftentimes your identity is necessary to move forward with these very serious allegations. Typically, the investigating agency requires evidence and witnesses in order to hold an officer accountable for internal complaints or to prosecute the offenses as criminal complaints. For civil complaints, a claim may only proceed anonymously or by pseudonym for instances where it is done to protect the person filing the claim.

How Does Police Misconduct Affect a Police Case?

Police misconduct can result in negative outcomes for a case or investigation. Misconduct in the form of fabricating or tampering with evidence may lead to a false arrest or conviction, as well as impeding an arrest from being made at all. Other times, it may hinder an investigation from being conducted in a reasonable time or manner. Evidence found through police misconduct may be deemed inadmissible during trial as well. Additionally, police misconduct can lead to a miscarriage of justice, or an error at trial which may lead to the conviction and punishment of an innocent person. Sometimes, police misconduct can be lethal when an officer kills someone without justification.

What Are Some Examples of Situations Where I Might Need a Police Misconduct Lawyer?

Victims of police misconduct can take action by filing a lawsuit. Depending on your state and city, there may be a government agency, such as a police review board, that you can file a complaint with. You should consider taking legal action if police officers:

• Used excessive force against you
• Threatened you for not cooperating
• Planted evidence in your home or car
• Discriminated against you or sexually harassed you

Are There Any Police Misconduct Lawyers Near Me In Palo Alto, CA?

Protecting your civil rights isn’t an easy process. Hiring an attorney with a history of success in police misconduct cases would put you in a much better position than risking it by going it alone. Finding an attorney to protect your rights and fight for you in court may be the best option for your case.  The LawInfo Directory can help you find verified police misconduct lawyers near Palo Alto.