Q: How does someone file a complaint against a police officer for making you feel unsafe in the back of their vehicle?
I was taken to jail, the police officer proceeded to speed up and slow down, the cuffs left indents in my wrist. I asked her to stop and she turned the music up and start swerving all over the road. She was taking pictures on Snapchat of her self while driving. She tore apart my wallet looking for something and didn’t find anything.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
Filing a complaint against a police officer for misconduct is an important step to ensure accountability. You can start by documenting everything that happened, including the date, time, location, and details of the officer’s behavior. If you have any visible marks from the handcuffs, take photos as evidence. Write down everything while it is fresh in your memory, including any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
You can file a complaint with the police department’s internal affairs division or the civilian review board if your city has one. Most departments allow complaints to be submitted online, by phone, or in person. If you feel uncomfortable reporting directly to the police, you can also reach out to a local advocacy organization or legal aid service. Your state’s attorney general’s office may have a division that handles police misconduct as well.
If you believe your rights were violated, you may also want to explore legal options. Unlawful treatment by law enforcement can sometimes be addressed through civil action. Keeping copies of everything you submit and any responses you receive is important. If the department does not take the complaint seriously, escalating it to oversight agencies or local government officials may be necessary. You deserve to feel safe, and taking action can help prevent this from happening to someone else.
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
