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AddressingPoliceMisconductLawsEnforced bytheDepartmentofJustice
Thevastmajorityofthelawenforcementofficersinthiscountryperformtheirvery difficultjobswithrespectfortheircommunitiesandincompliancewiththelaw. Evenso,thereareincidentsinwhichthisisnotthecase.Thisdocumentoutlines thelawsenforcedbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofJustice(DOJ)thataddress policemisconductandexplainshowyoucanfileacomplaintwithDOJifyou believethatyourrightshavebeenviolated. Federallawsthataddresspolicemisconductincludebothcriminalandcivil statutes.TheselawscovertheactionsofState,county,andlocalofficers, includingthosewhoworkinprisonsandjails.Inaddition,severallawsalso applytoFederallawenforcementofficers.Thelawsprotectallpersonsinthe UnitedStates(citizensandnoncitizens). EachlawDOJenforcesisbrieflydiscussedbelow.InDOJinvestigations,whether criminalorcivil,thepersonwhoserightshavebeenreportedlyviolatedisreferred toasavictimandoftenisanimportantwitness.DOJgenerallywillinformthe victimoftheresultsoftheinvestigation,butwedonotactasthevictim'slawyer andcannotgivelegaladviceasaprivateattorneycould. ThevariousofficeswithinDOJthatareresponsibleforenforcingthelaws discussedinthisdocumentcoordinatetheirinvestigationandenforcementefforts whereappropriate.Forexample,acomplaintreceivedbyoneofficemaybereferred toanotherifnecessarytoaddresstheallegations.Inaddition,morethanone officemayinvestigatethesamecomplaintiftheallegationsraiseissuescoveredby morethanonestatute.Whatisthedifferencebetweencriminalandcivil cases?Criminalandcivillawsaredifferent.Criminalcasesusuallyare investigatedandhandledseparatelyfromcivilcases,eveniftheyconcernthesame incident.Inacriminalcase,DOJbringsacaseagainsttheaccusedpersonina civilcase,DOJbringsthecase(eitherthroughlitigationoranadministrative investigation)againstagovernmentalauthorityorlawenforcementagency.Ina criminalcase,theevidencemustestablishproof"beyondareasonabledoubt," whileincivilcasestheproofneedonlysatisfythelowerstandardofa "preponderanceoftheevidence."Finally,incriminalcases,DOJseekstopunisha wrongdoerforpastmisconductthroughimprisonmentorothersanction.Incivil cases,DOJseekstocorrectalawenforcementagency'spoliciesandpracticesthat fosteredthemisconductand,whereappropriate,mayrequireindividualrelieffor thevictim(s). FederalCriminalEnforcement Itisacrimeforoneormorepersonsactingundercoloroflawwillfullytodeprive orconspiretodepriveanotherpersonofanyrightprotectedbytheConstitutionor lawsoftheUnitedStates.(18U.S.C.241,242)."Coloroflaw"simplymeans thatthepersondoingtheactisusingpowergiventohimorherbyagovernmental agency(local,State,orFederal).Alawenforcementofficeracts"undercolorof law"evenifheorsheisexceedinghisorherrightfulpower.Thetypesoflaw enforcementmisconductcoveredbytheselawsincludeexcessiveforce,sexual assault,intentionalfalsearrests,ortheintentionalfabricationofevidence resultinginalossoflibertytoanother.Enforcementoftheseprovisionsdoesnot requirethatanyracial,religious,orotherdiscriminatorymotiveexisted.What remediesareavailableundertheselaws?Violationsoftheselawsare punishablebyfineand/orimprisonment.Thereisnoprivaterightofactionunder thesestatutesinotherwords,thesearenotthelegalprovisionsunderwhichyou wouldfilealawsuitonyourown. FederalCivilEnforcement "PoliceMisconductProvision" ThislawmakesitunlawfulforStateorlocallawenforcementofficerstoengagein apatternorpracticeofconductthatdeprivespersonsofrightsprotectedbythe ConstitutionorlawsoftheUnitedStates.(42U.S.C.14141).Thetypesofconduct coveredbythislawcaninclude,amongotherthings,excessiveforce, discriminatoryharassment,falsearrests,coercivesexualconduct,andunlawful stops,searchesorarrests.Inordertobecoveredbythislaw,themisconductmust constitutea"patternorpractice"itmaynotsimplybeanisolatedincident.The DOJmustbeabletoshowincourtthattheagencyhasanunlawfulpolicyorthat JonathanM.Smith Chief
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DOJmustbeabletoshowincourtthattheagencyhasanunlawfulpolicyorthat theincidentsconstitutedapatternofunlawfulconduct.However,unliketheother civillawsdiscussedbelow,DOJdoesnothavetoshowthatdiscriminationhas occurredinordertoproveapatternorpracticeofmisconduct.Whatremedies areavailableunderthislaw?Theremediesavailableunderthislawdonot provideforindividualmonetaryreliefforthevictimsofthemisconduct.Rather, theyprovideforinjunctiverelief,suchasorderstoendthemisconductand changesintheagency'spoliciesandproceduresthatresultedinorallowedthe misconduct.ThereisnoprivaterightofactionunderthislawonlyDOJmayfile suitforviolationsofthePoliceMisconductProvision. TitleVIoftheCivilRightsActof1964 andthe"OJPProgramStatute" Together,theselawsprohibitdiscriminationonthebasisofrace,color,national origin,sex,andreligionbyStateandlocallawenforcementagenciesthatreceive financialassistancefromtheDepartmentofJustice.(42U.S.C.2000d,etseq. and42U.S.C.3789d(c)).Currently,mostpersonsareservedbyalaw enforcementagencythatreceivesDOJfunds.Theselawsprohibitbothindividual instancesandpatternsorpracticesofdiscriminatorymisconduct,i.e.,treatinga persondifferentlybecauseofrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,orreligion.The misconductcoveredbyTitleVIandtheOJP(OfficeofJusticePrograms)Program Statuteincludes,forexample,harassmentoruseofracialslurs,unjustified arrests,discriminatorytrafficstops,coercivesexualconduct,retaliationforfiling acomplaintwithDOJorparticipatingintheinvestigation,useofexcessiveforce, orrefusalbytheagencytorespondtocomplaintsallegingdiscriminatory treatmentbyitsofficers.Whatremediesareavailableundertheselaws? DOJmayseekchangesinthepoliciesandproceduresoftheagencytoremedy violationsoftheselawsand,ifappropriate,alsoseekindividualremedialrelieffor thevictim(s).IndividualsalsohaveaprivaterightofactionunderTitleVIand undertheOJPProgramStatuteinotherwords,youmayfilealawsuityourself undertheselaws.However,youmustfirstexhaustyouradministrativeremediesby filingacomplaintwithDOJifyouwishtofileinFederalCourtundertheOJP ProgramStatute. TitleIIoftheAmericanswithDisabilitiesActof1990 andSection504oftheRehabilitationActof1973 TheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)andSection504prohibit discriminationagainstindividualswithdisabilitiesonthebasisofdisability.(42 U.S.C.12131 ,etseq.and29U.S.C.794).Theselawsprotectallpeoplewith disabilitiesintheUnitedStates.Anindividualisconsideredtohavea"disability" ifheorshehasaphysicalormentalimpairmentthatsubstantiallylimitsoneor moremajorlifeactivities,hasarecordofsuchanimpairment,orisregardedas havingsuchanimpairment. TheADAprohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityinallStateandlocal governmentprograms,services,andactivitiesregardlessofwhethertheyreceive DOJfinancialassistanceitalsoprotectspeoplewhoarediscriminatedagainst becauseoftheirassociationwithapersonwithadisability.Section504prohibits discriminationbyStateandlocallawenforcementagenciesthatreceivefinancial assistancefromDOJ.Section504alsoprohibitsdiscriminationinprogramsand activitiesconductedbyFederalagencies,includinglawenforcementagencies. Theselawsprohibitdiscriminatorytreatment,includingmisconduct,onthebasis ofdisabilityinvirtuallyalllawenforcementservicesandactivities.Theseactivities include,amongothers,interrogatingwitnesses,providingemergencyservices, enforcinglaws,addressingcitizencomplaints,andarresting,booking,and holdingsuspects.Theselawsalsoprohibitretaliationforfilingacomplaintwith DOJorparticipatingintheinvestigation.Whatremediesareavailable undertheselaws?Ifappropriate,DOJmayseekindividualreliefforthe victim(s),inadditiontochangesinthepoliciesandproceduresofthelaw enforcementagency.IndividualshaveaprivaterightofactionunderboththeADA andSection504youmayfileaprivatelawsuitforviolationsofthesestatutes. Thereisnorequirementthatyouexhaustyouradministrativeremediesbyfilinga complaintwithDOJfirst. HowtoFileaComplaintwithDOJ CriminalEnforcement Ifyouwouldliketofileacomplaintallegingaviolationofthecriminallaws discussedabove,youmaycontacttheFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI),which isresponsibleforinvestigatingallegationsofcriminaldeprivationsofcivilrights. YoumayalsocontacttheUnitedStatesAttorney'sOffice(USAO)inyourdistrict.
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TheFBIandUSAOshaveofficesinmostmajorcitiesandhavepubliclylisted phonenumbers.Inaddition,youmaysendawrittencomplaintto: CriminalSection CivilRightsDivision U.S.DepartmentofJustice P.O.Box66018 Washington,D.C.200356018 CivilEnforcement IfyouwouldliketofileacomplaintallegingviolationsofthePoliceMisconduct Statute,TitleVI,ortheOJPProgramStatute,youmaysendawrittencomplaint to: CoordinationandReviewSection CivilRightsDivision U.S.DepartmentofJustice P.O.Box66560 Washington,D.C.200356560 YoumayalsocalltheCoordinationandReviewSection'stollfreenumberfor informationandacomplaintform,at(888)8485306(voiceandTDD). Ifyouwouldliketofileacomplaintallegingdiscriminationonthebasisof disability,youmaysendawrittencomplaintto: DisabilityRightsSection CivilRightsDivision U.S.DepartmentofJustice P.O.Box66738 Washington,D.C.200356738 YoumayalsocalltheDisabilityRightsSection'stollfreeADAInformationLineat (800)5140301(voice)or(800)5140383(TDD). HowdoIfileacomplaintabouttheconductofalawenforcement officerfromaFederalagency? IfyoubelievethatyouareavictimofcriminalmisconductbyaFederallaw enforcementofficer(suchastheImmigrationandNaturalizationServicetheFBI theCustomsServiceAlcohol,Tobacco,andFirearmsortheBorderPatrol),you shouldfollowtheproceduresdiscussedaboveconcerninghowtofileacomplaint allegingviolationsofthecriminallawsweenforce.Ifyoubelievethatyouhave beensubjectedbyaFederallawenforcementofficertothetypeofmisconduct discussedaboveconcerning"FederalCivilEnforcement,"youmaysenda complainttotheCoordinationandReviewSection,attheaddresslistedabove. Thatofficewillforwardyourcomplainttotheappropriateagencyandoffice. WhatinformationshouldIincludeinacomplainttoDOJ? Yourcomplaint,whetherallegingviolationsofcriminalorcivillawslistedinthis document,shouldincludethefollowinginformation: Yourname,address,andtelephonenumber(s). Thename(s)ofthelawenforcementagency(oragencies)involved. Adescriptionoftheconductyoubelieveviolatesoneofthelawsdiscussedabove, withasmanydetailsaspossible.Youshouldinclude:thedatesandtimesof incident(s)anyinjuriessustainedthename(s),orotheridentifyinginformation, oftheofficer(s)involved(ifpossible)andanyotherexamplesofsimilar misconduct. Thenamesandtelephonenumbersofwitnesseswhocansupportyour allegations. Ifyoubelievethatthemisconductisbasedonyourrace,color,nationalorigin, sex,religion,ordisability,pleaseidentifythebasisandexplainwhatledyouto believethatyouweretreatedinadiscriminatorymanner(i.e.,differentlyfrom personsofanotherrace,sex,etc.). Reproductionofthisdocumentisencouraged.
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