Most police officers are professional, hard working and respect the law. It is a noble profession, and police officers are needed to keep us safe. However, as with any profession, there are some police officers that abuse their position and use it to employ unnecessary force. Police misconduct law examines these behaviors and lawyers pursue these claims on behalf of their clients.
If you have been a victim of police misconduct, you might be feeling scared, vulnerable and worried about what happens next. You will also need to consider getting a lawyer (see here for the many different types). But what are the different types of police misconduct?
Coerced false confession
Coerced false confessions are more common than you might think. This is when a suspect confesses to a crime they haven’t committed to escape an aversive interrogation, to avoid a threat or perhaps to gain a reward. Whilst there’s a psychological explanation as to why many people might confess to a crime they haven’t committed, a coerced false confession counts as police misconduct because the police officer has encouraged the innocent person to take the blame for a crime they did not commit. A police officer should never pervert the course of justice.
Brutality and violence
Whilst police officers should only use violence when absolutely necessary, some use it when they shouldn’t. This is a civil rights issue that is completely inexcusable, and police violence is a matter that many people are becoming increasingly worried about. If you have experienced police brutality whether that’s verbal harassment, physical injuries, mental injuries or property damage speak to a police misconduct lawyer as soon as possible.
False arrest
The term false arrest is self-explanatory. It’s when a citizen is arrested without warrant or cause. Essentially, the police officer who arrested the person does not have substantial evidence for the arrest, and therefore their human rights have been violated.
Racial profiling
Racial profiling is another serious issue, especially in the US. This is when a police officer suspects or targets a person based on their race, religion or ethnicity. It is incredibly dangerous and happens not only in the world of crime and punishment but in everyday life, too. People subconsciously make judgments of others because of the way they look or based on these stereotypes and this is not OK. This is exactly why police officers need to set an example and ensure that racial profiling does not occur.
Witness tampering
Witness tampering is another type of police misconduct. This is when a police officer attempts to influence, alter or prevent the testimony of a witness. Witness tampering is a felony and is punishable for up to twenty years in prison. Like coerced false confessions, it perverts the course of justice and causes dishonesty in front of a court of law. The purpose of a police officer is to maintain public order and safety, enforce the law and prevent, detect and investigate criminal activities, and this cannot be done if they are tampering witness statements.
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