In simple words, police misconduct happens when a civilian’s rights are violated. Police officers have power, and unfortunately, there are many cases where this power has been abused. Such cases are reported often in the US, and we all have heard that. If you suffered police misconduct in Chicago, consider meeting experienced Excessive force attorneys to know your rights. Here are some details worth your attention.
Understanding police misconduct
Some of the common examples of police misconduct include –
- Evidence falsification: When an officer fabricates or forges evidence to support allegations.
- False arrest: Arresting someone without justification or reasonable suspicion.
- Illegal search: When an officer violates the procedure to do a legitimate search or does so without a cause or consent.
- Intimidation: When an officer intimidates or uses tactics to get you to consent to admitting a crime or search.
- Police brutality: When an officer uses undue and unnecessary force, resulting in injuries. This also includes inappropriate use of weapons.
- Racial profiling: When an officer targets a person because of their race, religion, or similar characteristics.
- Witness tampering: When an officer influences or coerces a witness to get a particular statement.
What should you do?
We recommend taking the following steps-
- Write down every detail you can remember about the incident. People tend to forget things with time, and you may not recollect what had happened.
- Check if there were witnesses to the incident and get their contact details. You can contact them later for statements and other information.
- Get medical attention for your injuries, even when you haven’t sustained a severe injury. Also, keep a record of your treatment, medical bills, and related costs.
Contact an attorney
Hiring an attorney is probably the ideal step to deal with a police misconduct case. Victims may be eligible for financial compensation in many cases, and an attorney will ensure the client gets justice. You will find law firms in Chicago that have experience with such lawsuits, and if you want to claim damages, the lawyers will usually take a contingency fee. The attorney only gets paid after you recover money. As a client, you should ask the attorney about their usual approach in such cases, the possible issues with your claim, and other things that you can do to strengthen the case.
You don’t have to feel powerless because you suffered police misconduct. Help is just a call away, and many law firms offer support 24×7 for clients in need.