Most law enforcement officials do their challenging jobs to the best of their abilities and in compliance with the law. Unfortunately, however, there are times that police officers or other officials cross the line when making an arrest, detaining a suspect or conducting an investigation. In fact, the U.S. Department of Justice regularly investigates alleged police misconduct such as excessive force, false arrest, unlawful stops, discriminatory harassment or use of racial slurs, discriminatory traffic stops and other potential rights violations.

Both state and federal law, including the U.S. Constitution, protect suspects and criminal defendants from police misconduct. In addition to police officers, these laws typically apply to people who work in prisons and jails and other law enforcement officials. It does not matter whether a suspect or defendant is a U.S. citizen, he or she still has certain rights that cannot be violated. The 5th Amendment to the Constitution, for example, guarantees people accused of a crime the right to remain silent. This means that a suspect cannot be forced to give information to the police. If a suspect attempts to remain silent during questioning but is coerced into talking, his or her rights were most likely violated.

There are of course many other ways in which the authorities can violate a suspect’s or criminal defendant’s rights. These include police misconduct such as questioning outside the presence of an attorney when one has been requested, making false arrests, the use of excessive force, illegal searches, warrantless entry, unlawful stops, fabricating evidence, coercive sexual conduct, misuse of police dogs, racial profiling and more.

If you or someone you love has been subjected to police misconduct, you need an experienced civil rights lawyer on your side. Only a dedicated attorney who has handled many such claims can help you decide how best to pursue your case. Our skilled trial lawyers can help protect your rights and secure all of the compensation to which you may be entitled.

At Feldman Shepherd, we are committed to obtaining the best possible recovery for our clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey as expeditiously as possible. We are here to serve you with hard work, attention to detail and a caring approach tailored to your individual needs. If we may be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us today.