What Are the Most Common Forms of Police Brutality?
Police brutality is an issue that sparks massive debate in the United States. While it should be a given that everyone deserves certain rights when dealing with the police, police brutality is often excused by those who claim that victims wouldn’t be subject to police brutality if they would simply not do anything wrong. This is obviously not the case, as many people who are never even arrested are still subject to police violence—and even those who have committed crimes still don’t deserve to be assaulted by the police. If you believe you have been a victim of such misconduct, contacting an excessive force and restraint lawyer in Los Angeles can help you seek justice. Learn more about common forms of police brutality, and if you’ve been victimized by local police, call the Los Angeles team at the Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo at 818-347-3333 to discuss your case in greater detail.
The data on police violence is staggering, highlighting the serious need for reform in the United States. Each year, roughly 250,000 civilians are injured in interactions with police officers. Confrontations with police result in over 600 fatalities every single year. If you compare these statistics to those of any other developed nation, you’ll see that the United States falls very, very short of meeting its obligation to its residents. For those seeking accountability and justice, a Los Angeles police misconduct law firm can provide the necessary legal support and representation.
Use of Excessive Force
This is perhaps the most common form of police brutality. Police know that when they are physically aggressive with suspects, they can explain it away by saying that the person was out of control or dangerous. To control them, they may then turn to striking, unnecessarily using weapons, using unsafe restraints or chokeholds, and otherwise causing unnecessary physical harm. If you or a loved one has experienced such treatment, consulting with a Los Angeles excessive force and restraint attorney can help you seek justice and hold those responsible accountable. In extreme cases, excessive force can lead to permanent injury or even death.
Racial Profiling
Racial profiling is a problem across the entire country, and the statistics back that up. Estimates indicate an approximately one million civilians are subjected to the use of force or threat of force every year, but those numbers aren’t evenly dispersed across the population. Black and Hispanic individuals are twice as likely to experience force or threat of force during police interactions. When it comes to fatal police interactions, Black individuals are more than twice as likely to be killed during a police interaction and nearly five times more likely to be injured to an extent that requires medical care than white individuals. These numbers may even be conservative; more specific calculations in different jurisdictions indicate that Black Americans may be up to ten times more likely to be injured.
Coerced Confessions
Coerced confessions are one of the most alarming forms of police brutality, because police will go to extreme lengths to convince someone that they have committed a crime—even when there is no evidence. Consider the case of Thomas Perez Jr., who was recently coerced into admitting he killed his missing father with a pair of scissors, only for his father to be found alive and well shortly after the confession. For those who have experienced physical coercion or mistreatment, consulting a Los Angeles excessive force and restraint attorney can be crucial in addressing these violations. There’s no real way to figure out how many people have been wrongfully imprisoned because of coerced confessions.
Sexual Assault
People, particularly women, are at high risk of sexual assault after an arrest. Consider how society views criminals, and then think about how likely people are to rally for a woman in this position. Again, people claim that women wouldn’t be subject to sexual assault by police officers if they would just avoid engaging in criminal activity that leads to arrest—as if the commission of a crime then gives police free rein to do whatever they want to suspects. If you or someone you know has experienced this, seeking help from a excessive force and restraint lawyer in Los Angeles can be crucial in holding the perpetrators accountable. Unfortunately, sexual assault is grossly underreported among prisoners and there are often minimal repercussions for officers.
Denial of Medical Treatment
Prisoners and suspects are entitled to medical treatment when ill or injured, but their needs are often ignored. Arrested suspects may go days without lifesaving or stabilizing medications, and injured or ill prisoners may waste away in their cells before someone finally cares enough to seek medical care. In such cases, municipal liability can come into play, holding the responsible entities accountable for neglecting the medical needs of those in their custody. Some prisoners have even died in confinement because no one believed that they were genuinely injured or sick.
Fight for Justice With the Police Misconduct Law Firm of Dale K. Galipo
No one, guilty or not, deserves to be abused at the hands of police officers and the justice system. If you’ve suffered police misconduct, let us help. Call us now at 818-347-3333 or reach out online and we’ll help you fight for what is right.
