Police officers are legally able to use force against individuals when provoked. In some cases, police use force when unprovoked or use excessive force when only moderate force is warranted. The use of excessive force can lead to severe injury and, in many cases, death. Death caused by police brutality is wrongful death and is punishable by law.
Police brutality can occur for several reasons, but the most common cause of excessive force results from the officer's psychological state, or when the police officer's perception of the situation affects how he or she reacts.
One such situation is when the officer feels disrespected. Some officers will act out against the disrespectful individual even though it is not the legal or moral thing to do. They may do this either to punish the individual for disrespecting them or to intimidate any other people present.
Another situation from which excessive force may arise is racial profiling. An officer who racially profiles individuals may overact to crimes committed by individuals of certain ethnicities or falsely accuse an individual of a crime because of his or her ethnicity. Both cases may count as brutality.
When police officers feel intimidated, they may preemptively strike an individual even if the officer was in no immediate danger. It may be harder to prove excessive force in this case because the officer may claim he or she felt threatened and had to act for his or her safety.
In each of these cases, the police officer committing the brutality may be doing so to assert his or her dominance since police officers are in a position of authority. Officers found guilty of this offense may face criminal charges. Families that lose loved ones due to police brutality may be entitled to monetary compensation for their loss.
No matter the reason a police officer used excessive force, the officer in question should be held accountable for his or her actions. Most of the time, police brutality cases are difficult and tricky. It is important to contact a lawyer that specializes in police brutality cases to help you properly build your case.
When the police are guilty of brutality, they should be held accountable for their actions. If someone you love died because a police officer used excessive force against him or her, contact the Pennsylvania police brutality attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. You may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
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