Q: What legal actions can I take for harassment and arrest by campus police?
I have been experiencing ongoing issues with campus police, including being followed by officers and denied a report when I attempted to report the harassment. The officers refused to provide their names and later admitted on camera to following me, only to backtrack afterward. I was arrested a month later for criminal trespass while walking my dog on a sidewalk. I don't attend the school and have faced difficulties when trying to speak to other police forces about these issues. The case is ongoing. What legal actions can I take regarding the harassment and arrest by the campus police?
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A:
You have several options to address the harassment and wrongful arrest by campus police. First, document everything thoroughly - dates, times, officer details if available, and all interactions including the video evidence of them admitting to following you. This documentation will be crucial for any legal proceedings, so keep detailed records of all communications with campus police and university officials.
You might consider filing a formal complaint with the university administration and the campus police department's oversight body. Many universities have specific procedures for handling complaints against their police force, and escalating to higher authorities like the university president or board of trustees can sometimes yield results. If these internal channels prove ineffective, reaching out to your state's police standards board or attorney general's office could provide additional avenues for accountability.
Legal representation would be beneficial both for your ongoing criminal trespass case and for exploring civil action options. You may have grounds for a civil rights lawsuit under federal law if your constitutional rights were violated during these interactions. A lawyer with experience in civil rights or false arrest cases can help evaluate the strength of potential claims such as harassment, false arrest, or violations of your freedom of movement on public property. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations to evaluate your case, and some may work on a contingency basis if they believe your case has merit.
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