Police Brutality: the Basics and How to Stay Protected

Due to the multiple conversations revolving around the topic, we decided to compile a post about police brutality.

Further on, we’ll explain the basics of it as well as what can individuals do when something like that happens to them. So, keep your eyes open and take notes!

What Is It?

When members of the law enforcement behave violently and have no intention of harming them or harass suspects and such, their actions are deemed to be examples of police brutality.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Unauthorized and unreasonable abductions and searches are forbidden, too. Discrimination on any basis, including race, gender, nationality or others, is also in this category. In short, anything that’s more than reasonable force is considered to be police brutality. And people think they’re victims of these actions are advised to ask for legal advice from police brutality lawyers such as USAttorneys.

According to the statistics, more than 950 individuals lost their lives after being shot by police officers. Around a quarter were African Americans.

What to Do In Case of Malicious Prosecution

This type of prosecution is done without a probable cause. Naturally, if the member of law enforcement has a probable cause, then the whole case falls. So, the victim should be sure that malicious prosecution happened.

Usually, there are a couple of instances that should be proven by the victim. One is that the proceedings have been started to harm them and there was no probable cause, to begin with. Also, there should be proof that the police officer who the victim wants to sue started the crime-based proceedings.

How to React to Wrongful Arrests

Wrongful arrests happen when the police officer does an uncalled-for seizure. Like in the above-mentioned type of brutality, the probable cause is everything. For all those unfamiliar with the term, it’s an instance where a rational human being will also think, like the police officer, that criminal activity is happening.

If a probable cause exists, then the claim is unfounded. Even if the officer doesn’t have a warrant, they can enter and seize if there is a probable cause. That further demonstrates the importance of the probable cause in these situations.

Even though it may be hard to prove, the evidence has to show that they had such a motive for arrest for the claim to succeed.

Extreme Force

In case of extreme force, when it happens, it gains the public’s attention almost immediately. That’s because it can graphically appear in videos that can circle the social media and news or even be depicted in poignant stories. Extreme force can lead to serious harm or ultimately death.

The problem here is that the definition of extreme force varies from one person to the next. Plus, it depends on the present situation as well as the particular circumstances.

Conclusion

It’s an issue that plagues many countries and communities around the world. Some of the ones who are supposed to deliver justice and protect the law can do otherwise. That, of course, is a crime. And the victims that have suffered from it should take action.