Injuries Caused by Police Brutality
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Police have broad authority to carry out their duties, as they should. Nevertheless, there are limits to these powers. Legal claims for police brutality or abuse may arise when law enforcement officials go beyond the limits of their authority and cause needless injury.
The following are some of the types of legal claims arising from police brutality or abuse in Michigan. Excessive ForcePolice only may use the amount of force that is reasonably necessary to carry out their lawful duties. Whether force is “excessive” depends on the reason why police attempted to stop or arrest an individual, the way that the person responded to police requests or demands, and the circumstances surrounding the encounter.Thus, it might be reasonable for law enforcement officers to physically grab and restrain a person who was armed, committed a violent crime, or physically resisted arrest. Police could do this based on a reasonable belief that the individual posed immediate danger, even if their belief was wrong. However, police may use no more force than necessary. They should not hit, rough up, or otherwise hurt a person who is unarmed, acts in a non-threatening manner, and follows their directions. Even if a person is aggressive, police must stop using force, as soon as they restrain the individual. Thus, any legal claim for “excessive force” must be based on injury resulting from force beyond whatever was necessary. If you or a member of your family was the victim of excessive police force, contact our office for a free legal consultation immediately. False Arrest or ImprisonmentThis claim arises when police take an individual into custody, without an arrest warrant and without “probable cause.” An officer would have “probable cause” if he or she actually saw the person commit a serious crime or had a reasonable belief that the person had or was just about to commit a serious crime.The reasonableness of the officer’s belief is based on the information available at the time of the arrest, even if it turns out to be wrong. When police lack this legal justification, the person taken into custody may have a claim for false arrest. Malicious ProsecutionAn individual may be the victim of “malicious prosecution” when a law enforcement official begins a criminal proceeding, without “probable cause,” but with malice toward the victim, and the criminal proceeding ends in the victim's favor (without a conviction).This claim arises, because the law states that no one should be subjected to the extreme emotional stress, embarrassment, and financial expense often involved in a criminal prosecution that lacks a legitimate basis. Unreasonable SearchIn recent years, the U.S. Congress and Courts have responded to terrorist attacks, drug trafficking, and school violence, by expanding police powers.Thus, law enforcement officers may ask every person for identification, and may check for weapons, at airports, schools, and other public buildings. In addition, police can stop a person in any public place, if the officer has “reasonable suspicion” that a crime was committed and that person committed it. During this kind of non-custodial stop, the officer may do a “pat-down” search to make sure the individual is not carrying a weapon. There still are occasions when law enforcement officers go beyond their authority, and a search becomes “unreasonable.” The situations that may be the basis of a legal claim include:
Rights of Pre-Trial Detainees
Even if police have a lawful basis to make an arrest, the individual may have a legal claim for injury that occurs in the detention facility or jail. At that point, law enforcement officials have complete control over the detainee. Therefore, they have an obligation to promptly determine his or her physical and psychological needs, provide proper medical treatment, food, and shelter, and protect the detainee from other inmates.
If you or a loved one was injured by federal, state, county, or local law enforcement officers, and you believe that your injury resulted from their excessive force or abuse of authority, it is important to talk with a Michigan police brutality lawyer with experience in Michigan and federal police brutality and civil rights laws. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form now. |
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