民事和刑事

charges for excessive force under specific legal standards

• State Charges:Local prosecutors may charge officers withassault, battery, or homicide. However, District Attorneys often face political and professional challenges in prosecuting officers they rely on for other cases.
• Federal Charges (18 U.S.C. 242):TheDepartment of Justice (DOJ)can prosecute officers for willfully depriving a person of their constitutional rights under color of law.
• Failure to Intervene:Officers who witness a colleague using excessive force and fail to stop it can also becriminally prosecuted.

• Section 1983 Claims:Under42 U.S.C. 1983, individuals can sue state and local officers for civil rights violations.
• Monell Claims:Plaintiffs may sue a municipality or police department if they can prove that an official policy or custom led to theuse of excessive force.
• Damages:Successful lawsuits can result inmonetary compensationfor medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

• Glendale, AZ (Jan 2026):An officer wasfired and suedfor the fatal shooting of Dillon Siebeck, who was mistakenly identified as a suspect.
• Hazard, KY (Jan 2026):A federal judgedismissed a lawsuitagainst the former police chief after a settlement was reached regarding 2024 excessive force claims.
• ICE Shooting Inquiry (Jan 2026):Legal debate continues regarding whether anICE agent who shot a womanin Minneapolis can be prosecuted, highlighting the complexities offederal immunity.