Police Misconduct & Civil Rights

In 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Miranda v. Arizona. The decision made clear that members of law enforcement must advise suspects of their Constitutional rights. Furthermore, officers must tell suspects about the potential...

A New York man was living with his wife, newborn baby and sister-in-law. The sister-in-law had a history of mental illness, which was likely responsible for a 911 call she made. During the call, the sister-in-law claimed the man was abusing his child. Emergency...

If you suffered physical assault during an arrest or while in police custody, you may be the victim of a civil rights violation. The Department of Justice states it is a crime to deprive any person of his or her rights. When under arrest, officers cannot use excessive...

It’s often assumed that police and other law enforcement authorities can’t lie to people who have been arrested or to others they suspect of committing a crime. We’ve seen our favorite TV cops do it, but that’s just dramatic license, right? Not necessarily.  The U.S....

During a prearrest investigation, there are steps that you will want to take to protect yourself. The police have to follow specific legal procedures when you’re arrested and taken into custody. Failing to do so, you could have a case against them or reason to have...

You don’t want to have an encounter with the police. On a walk through your neighborhood, you spot an officer coming toward you. It looks like he’s just walking on patrol, not coming toward you specifically, but you turn and start jogging the opposite way. Have you...

If you find yourself accused of serious criminal conduct, it may be wise to delete your social media profiles. Modern social media began simply as a way for college students to communicate with each other easily; Facebook, for instance, started at Harvard and was only...

When a police officer shows up at your door and asks to enter your home, you are fully allowed to deny entry and refuse to give consent. You do not have to let them come in and search your property. To get in without consent, they must have a search warrant. They can...

You probably already know that unless you invite the police into your home or they witness a crime in progress, they need a warrant to conduct most searches. What you may not realize is that some of the most incriminating evidence police may find can occur in a legal...