Police Misconduct: Do You Need A Lawyer?
Police misconduct is, unfortunately, a problem that continues to happen. If it happens to you, you can feel like you have no power to fight back. Actually, with the help of a civil rights attorney, you can take a police officer to trial and gain retribution for unlawful actions against you. Here are some times when a lawyer may be helpful.
A Police Officer Didn't Follow the Law
If you feel like you were pulled over for no reason, there is a chance that the police officer acted unlawfully, based on their own biases or prejudices. A lawyer may help you take this person to court. Another time when police officers don't follow the law is when they don't protect civilians' rights. They may assume that you don't know what your rights are as a detainee. If you weren't read your rights, or the police officer violated basic civil decency while detaining you, this could be cause for a trial.
The Officer Used Intimidation or Threats
A police officer's job is to find out the truth of a situation, using only the necessary tactics. Intimidation and threats are not consider good form or lawful ways of questioning a subject. They can lead to false confessions. Anything you confess under duress cannot be held up in court. But, on the other hand, you might be able to get legal retribution for a police officer who questioned or detained you inappropriately.
There Was Unnecessary Violence
Police officers are sometimes allowed to use violence to detain a suspect or criminal. But, there needs to be a good reason. The police officer must be in immediate danger to do so. A civil rights attorney can help you review the circumstances of your detainment and the forces used. If you were not a threat to the officer, but they used brutal force, they can be in serious legal trouble. Note that violence can be verbal as well; there is never a need to verbally assault a detainee. That is often a surefire sign that the police officer was not acting in good faith while attempting to detain or question you.
In the end, if you feel like the circumstances of your police interaction were at all questionable, it is a good idea to consult a civil rights attorney at firms like the Law Offices Of Timothy O'Brien. After all, anything you report could help another civilian avoid a similar interaction with a bad police officer. And, you may gain compensation or retribution for the unlawful acts of the officer.