Police Misconduct & Brutality
Police officers are entrusted with enormous power. They the power to stop, detain, search, arrest, and even use deadly force in certain situations. With that power comes the responsibility to act within the bounds of the law and to treat every person with basic dignity and respect. When officers abuse that power (for example by using excessive force, making wrongful arrests, fabricating evidence, or engaging in other forms of misconduct), the people they harm have the right to hold them accountable.
At Justly Prudent, we represent individuals and families who have been harmed by police misconduct and brutality. These cases are deeply personal, often involving physical injury, emotional trauma, and a profound sense of injustice that can affect every aspect of a person's life. We understand how difficult it can be to stand up against law enforcement, and we fight aggressively on behalf of our clients to make sure that officers and the agencies that employ them are held responsible when they violate the rights of the people they are sworn to protect. Many of these cases are brought under a federal law known as Section 1983, which allows individuals to sue government officials who violate their constitutional rights.
We handle police misconduct cases across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Florida, and Massachusetts, in both state and federal courts. Contact us if you believe your rights were violated due government misconduct.
Police Misconduct Practice Areas
Excessive Force Claims
Law enforcement officers are permitted to use a reasonable amount of force when necessary to carry out their duties, but the force used must be proportional to the situation. When officers use more force than is reasonably necessary (such as beating, tasing, or shooting a person who does not pose a serious threat) that is considered excessive force, and it violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Excessive force cases can result in serious physical injuries, lasting emotional trauma, and even death. Our firm represents individuals and families who have been harmed by officers who crossed the line from lawful force into unconstitutional violence, and we work to hold both the individual officers and the agencies that employ them accountable. Contact us today to discuss your specific situation and legal needs.
False Arrest & Unlawful Detention
The Fourth Amendment protects every person from being arrested or detained without probable cause. This means that the police must have a reasonable basis to believe that a person has committed a crime before they can take that person into custody. When officers arrest someone without probable cause, based on fabricated evidence, or in retaliation for exercising a constitutional right, that arrest is unlawful. Unlawful detention occurs when a person is held in custody longer than legally permitted or without being brought before a judge in a timely manner. Our legal professionals assist individuals who have been wrongfully arrested or unlawfully detained and help them seek compensation for the harm caused by these violations.
Malicious Prosecution
Malicious prosecution occurs when an individual causes a government official to initiate or continue a criminal case against someone without probable cause and with improper motives, such as personal revenge or an attempt to cover up their own misconduct. Being wrongfully prosecuted can turn a person's life upside down—leading to time in jail, loss of employment, damage to reputation, and severe emotional distress—even if the charges are eventually dropped or the person is found not guilty. Our firm represents individuals who have been subjected to malicious prosecution and works to recover compensation for the harm they suffered as a result of baseless criminal charges.
Unlawful Search and Seizures
The Fourth Amendment protects every person from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This means that, in most situations, police officers must have a warrant or another lawful basis before they can search your home, your vehicle, your belongings, or your person. When officers conduct a search without proper legal authority, or when they seize property without justification, they violate the Fourth Amendment. Our firm represents individuals whose Fourth Amendment rights have been violated through illegal searches and seizures, and we work to recover compensation for the invasion of privacy and any other harm that resulted.
Conditions of Confinement
People who are incarcerated or detained by the government do not lose all of their constitutional rights. The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and the Fourteenth Amendment requires that the government provide humane conditions of confinement for all people in its custody. Conditions of confinement claims arise when jails, prisons, or detention facilities subject people to inhumane conditions, such as severe overcrowding, unsanitary living conditions, lack of adequate food or water, failure to protect inmates from violence, or denial of basic hygiene and sanitation. Our firm represents individuals who have been subjected to unconstitutional conditions while in government custody.
Wrongful Death in Custody
When a person dies while in government custody—whether in a jail, prison, or during a police encounter—and that death results from excessive force, deliberate indifference to medical needs, or other constitutional violations, the person's family may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim under Section 1983. Losing a loved one under these circumstances is devastating, and families deserve answers about what happened and accountability for those responsible. Our firm represents families who have lost loved ones due to government misconduct and works to secure justice on their behalf.