Last updated 7 months ago
Police officials are responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community, including upholding one’s civil rights. Unfortunately, it seems that there have been a rising number of police misconduct and police brutality incidents over the past several years. Police misconduct includes any inappropriate actions of police officials or misuse of their power, while police brutality is a type of misconduct in which the officer uses excessive force. Check out this overview to learn about the ways that police misconduct and brutality can impact your life.
Physical Injury
Police misconduct involving brutality or assault often leads to various physical injuries. This may include bruises and contusions, lacerations, sprains and strains, and even broken bones or traumatic head injuries. However, unless you file a claim against the arresting officer for misconduct, you will most likely be stuck paying for any medical bills out of pocket.
Loss of Freedom
Acts of misconduct by the police, such as unlawful arrests, racial profiling, and assault, directly violate your civil rights outlined by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. This may not only take away your civil liberties, but also take away your physical freedom, as being placed under arrest means you can no longer leave police custody of your own free will. Police misconduct and brutality can also lead to the loss of property, as police may confiscate any objects that you have on your person at the time of arrest.
Wrongful Criminal Convictions
Unlawful searches, seizures, and arrests can all lead to a wrongful criminal conviction if you do not have the assistance of an experienced civil rights attorney. Contacting an attorney immediately after a false arrest or other instance of police misconduct can help you gain compensation for your injuries or civil violations and ensure that the incident does not result in a wrongful criminal conviction.
Whether you have suffered a false arrest or have had your civil rights violated by a law enforcement official, Patrick G. Geckle, LLC is here to help. Learn more about your legal options by contacting our law office at (267) 234-7708 or by visiting our website.
Last updated 7 months ago
Being arrested can be a terrifying experience—especially when you are unfamiliar with your legal rights. This video examines the laws surrounding police searches and seizures.
The Fourth Amendment is designed to protect individuals during police stops from unlawful searches. This law states that the police cannot legally perform a search or seize any items without a search warrant, arrest warrant, or probable cause. The Miranda Act also protects citizens, as it forces police officials to notify individuals of their rights upon arrest, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Learn about the history of the Miranda Act with this clip.
Make sure your legal rights are being upheld by contacting Patrick G. Geckle, LLC at (267) 234-7708. With several years of experience, our law office is devoted to protecting you against police misconduct and brutality.
Last updated 7 months ago
Being placed under arrest means that you are placed under police custody and are no longer free to leave or move around. An arrest can take place simply by having the police officer stating that you are under arrest without the need for physical restraints, such as handcuffs. While the officers do not necessarily need to put you in handcuffs in order for you to be arrested, there is such a thing as false arrest. Continue reading to learn more about false arrest and what steps you can take if it happens to you.
What Constitutes a False Arrest?
A false arrest is the unlawful containment or imprisonment of an individual when the police do not have sufficient probable cause, or a series of facts that would lead any reasonable person to assume a crime has been committed. Under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, a false arrest directly violates your civil rights regarding unreasonable seizures and searches and is therefore punishable by law.
What You Should Do?
One of the first steps to take when you have been the victim of false arrest or unlawful detention is to consult with a civil rights attorney. An experienced police misconduct attorney will gather the necessary evidence to support your claim, in addition to helping you file the actual civil rights violation claim. This claim can be filed at the state or federal court level and is needed in order to obtain compensation or damages. In the event that you and your attorney can prove that the police official was malicious or guilty of racial profiling, you may be entitled to punitive damages.
Don’t let a false arrest influence the rest of your life. Get the legal representation you need to fight police misconduct or police brutality by contacting the law offices of Patrick G. Geckle, LLC at (267) 234-7708. We also provide legal representation for victims of police assault and other types of police abuse.
Last updated 7 months ago
If you have been the victim of police misconduct or brutality, you may want to retain the services of an excellent civil rights attorney who will help you fight back. Explore the resources below for more information about police brutality cases and statistics. For a free consultation with a premier civil rights attorney, call the Law Offices of Patrick Geckle at (267) 234-7708. We provide the Philadelphia area with top-quality legal representation.
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Police officers generally need a search warrant to enter your home or business and take what they perceive to be evidence of a crime. Learn about search warrants from Cornell University Law School.
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Police brutality is an unfortunate reality of modern life in America. This CBS News article outlines a particularly tragic case.
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This USA Today story deals with the alarming rise of police brutality cases since September 11, 2001.
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The case of Rodney King is one of the most well-known incidents of police abuse. See how his story changed the country perceived the issue of police brutality.
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Police misconduct is a wide-reaching problem that can affect all kinds of people. Check out police misconduct statistics on this informative website.
Last updated 8 months ago
The job of the police is to protect and serve the people in their communities. In a perfect world, the police would never act inappropriately or abuse their power, but this is unfortunately not always the case. In the event of police misconduct, you should know your rights so that you can take action against that violation. Here are just a few of the actions that qualify as police brutality.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Search and seizure is a complicated issue, but in general, the police must have a search warrant to conduct a search of your home or business. In most circumstances, if you do not give voluntary consent to the police, they cannot barge in and seize whatever they want. Police officers must go through the proper channels before they search and seize items from suspects.
Police Brutality
One of the most extreme kinds of police misconduct is police brutality. Police officers, like anyone else, can become emotional and make poor judgment calls in regards to their behavior, sometimes turning unexpectedly violent. But as civil servants and enforcers of the peace, they must practice reasonable self-control. Beating or harassing a citizen without provocation is a serious civil rights violation, and you have every right to fight back with the help of a good lawyer against that violation.
Harassment and Racism
Police officers are not allowed to verbally or physically harass citizens on the basis of their gender, race, or any other status. If you believe that you have been harassed or singled out because of your gender or race, you may have a case for police misconduct. Be sure to consult with a civil rights attorney to explain your situation so that the offenders can be brought to justice.
Denial of Medical Attention
If you are in a situation with the police in which you are seriously injured, the police may not deny you medical attention regardless of the circumstances. The police are there to protect all citizens, and the denial of medical attention to an injured or sick person may constitute police misconduct.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Patrick Geckle are committed to protecting the rights of American citizens against police misconduct. Call us at (267) 234-7708 to schedule a free consultation and to find out how we can help you fight back.
