What Constitutes Police Brutality?
When police act in unjust ways, citizens can end up severely injured. Police have a significant amount of power when in uniform. They are allowed to use force when they need to gain control of an encounter. However, they are only supposed to use the minimal amount of force necessary. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In order to determine an act of police brutality, you need to work with an experienced Manhattan police misconduct lawyer from Segal & Lax.
Some of the actions that can constitute an act of police brutality, include:
- Abuse from a correction officer or prison guard
- Excessive force from law enforcement
- False arrest
- Wrongful shooting
- Injuries from a taser, baton or nightstick
- Racial profiling
- Intimidation
Not only can acts of police brutality severely wound an individual but even after the injuries heal, mental and emotional trauma from the encounter can last. Citizens generally trust men and women in uniform because their duty is to protect and when they act in an unjust manner, victims can experience emotional distress. Team up with a Manhattan personal injury attorney from our firm if you need help in your case.
Police brutality does not only occur in physical manners, but also with verbal abuse and psychological intimidation. Verbal police misconduct commonly occurs at traffic stops and encounters that happen every day. Officers can make threats or statements that are racist and sexist; any of these acts constitute verbal abuse. The police have used these tactics in order to intimidate citizens to do what they want. This is against the law and they should be held accountable for these acts of police brutality. If you have suffered from an experience of physical or psychological police misconduct, contact a skilled Manhattan police brutality attorney to represent you. Segal & Lax offers a free online case evaluation form so you can get the process started right away.