Have you been injured by law enforcement officers using excessive force? This type of action is a violation of your civil rights and can be addressed by legal action.
What is Classified as Excessive Force?
Excessive force refers to situations in which law enforcement officers exceed the amount of force necessary against another person in an attempt to defuse a situation or protect others or themselves from harm. Everyone in the United States has a constitutional right to be protected from the excessive force used by law enforcement as articulated in the reasonable search and seizure requirement of the Fourth Amendment, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment in the Constitution of the United States of America.
Maryland Police Brutality Laws
When you are pulled over or approached by the police, any police action beyond “necessary force” is considered police brutality, or police misconduct. These unnecessary actions can result in physical or emotional harm, and even in extreme cases, death. Even when a crime has been committed, it is illegal for police officers to violate a person’s rights, whether that person is being arrested or nor not.
The latest Maryland force policy States (1) a police officer may not use force against a person unless, under the totality of the circumstances, the force is necessary and proportional to: (i) prevent an imminent threat or physical injury to a person; or (ii) effectuate a legitimate law enforcement object.
The most recent model for levels of force comes from the U.S. Navy, where they teach a six-step model: Officer presence, Verbal commands, Soft controls, Hard controls, Intermediate Weapons, and Lethal force.
When to File an Excessive Force Lawsuit
When you have suffered severe injuries you should consult with an experienced Maryland Excessive Force attorney as soon as possible.
Consult a Maryland Excessive Force Lawyer
What matters to you, matters to us. For over five decades, JGL attorneys have fought to improve the future of families, the arc of careers, the success of business, and your most basic human rights. The attorneys of JGL take your business, family, and personal issues as personally as you do. We relentlessly pursue the outcomes you desire. If you need guidance from a Maryland excessive force attorney, contact JGL.
