Although civil rights are often thought of in conjunction with social justice movements that fought for African American equality, they are far broader than that.
While civil rights certainly covers these privileges, they are applicable to all people. In the United States civil rights are the basic rights granted to everyone, entitling them to equitable treatment in society.
A violation of these civil rights is a serious offense, and the victim of the violation should seek out legal recourse, especially if the perpetrator of the offense is a police officer.
What Do Civil Rights Attorneys Do?
A civil rights attorney’s main priority is cases that involve the violation of civil rights. They aim to protect people from discriminatory behavior and unjust treatment.
Civil rights attorneys have extensive training on a variety of civil rights issues, from hate crimes and racial profiling to police misconduct and brutality. Sometimes, a case has overlaps, like police misconduct because of racial profiling, or police brutality that included a wrongful arrest.
What Is Police Misconduct?
Police misconduct is a common example of a civil rights violation. While these cases are typically handled as civil rights cases, meaning the offending party is not criminally charged, a case of civil rights violations can be so severe that they can progress into a criminal trial where the offending officer is criminally charged.
Police misconduct and brutality can take many forms, and it is important to remember that misconduct is not just excessive force. If you believe you have been a victim of police brutality, you might still have a case, even if you do not have severe injuries to show for it. Other examples of police brutality and misconduct include:
- Sexual assault
- Forced confessions, including confessions under duress and torture
- Falsified evidence, including planting evidence at the scene
- Unreasonable searches and seizures
- Cruel and unusual punishment
- Restriction of freedom of speech
If you have been deprived of your civil rights and have been a victim of police misconduct, then you should seek a civil rights attorney to help you file a lawsuit against the police.
Police misconduct, especially misconduct that violates civil rights, should not be tolerated or excused, and a civil rights attorney can help you to achieve the justice you deserve.
What Credentials Should A Civil Rights Attorney Have?
The attorney you have in a civil rights trial can seriously impact the outcome. With the right attorney on your side, the better the chance of your case’s success in court. There are a variety of traits to look for when choosing a civil rights attorney.
Experience, communication and transparency are among the most important elements to look for. When first meeting with an attorney, asking questions about prior cases they have handled related to civil rights can give you vital insight into how many trials they have undergone, as well as the success of the cases that they have tried.
Additionally, the honesty and transparency in how they answer these questions, as well as their assessment of your case, will give you plenty of insight into how open and transparent they will be with you throughout your trial.
The right attorney will be truthful in how they evaluate the case and will give you the strengths and weaknesses of your situation so that you can be prepared.
Finally, the manner in which they communicate with you is vital. An attorney with good communication skills will not only listen to you to help them construct your case, but also explain how each facet of your experience contributes to a winning case and whether you could provide further evidence or witness information that could improve the odds of a favorable outcome.
Work With Experienced Civil Rights Attorneys for Your Case
If your civil rights have been violated, you need to hire an attorney that you can trust. Civil rights violations are unacceptable, and police misconduct should not go unpunished.
By hiring the right civil rights attorney, your case can have the best chance of success. Especially if you encountered police brutality or other violations at the hands of an officer of the law, overcoming some of the protections in place for these public servants (such as qualified immunity) can pose a particular challenge.
This is why it is critical that you rely on an attorney who has worked specifically with civil rights cases in the past. The Brown Firm would be happy to assist you with your civil rights case.
.Our attorneys can evaluate the strength of your claim and help you understand where you stand. Reach out to schedule a consultation so that you can be prepared for your next steps.
