With support for gay marriage at record high levels in the United States, it would seem like the LGBTQ community has entered the social mainstream and become more widely accepted, so that gays and lesbians have less reason to worry about violence directed against them. But there’s a painful irony here in studies indicating that…
We’ve seen it on TV so many times. An argument starts between a police officer and a potential suspect, and bystanders with cell phone cameras quickly begin filming everything that occurs between the officer and the person they’re questioning. Depending on what happens next, those videos could end up on the evening news. In recent…
Americans are endowed with two things: liberty and rights, two words found in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Our civil liberties protect us from government actions that can infringe on rights like free speech or freedom of assembly. Our civil rights, on the other hand, are actions by the government to…
Earlier this year, Florida police officer Nouman Raja was tried in court and convicted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a black motorist, Corey Jones. This conviction was welcomed by the grieving family and activists supporting them, as criminal charges against police officers rarely result in a guilty verdict. How often are police officers…
A person who is being arrested will always continue to have legal rights. That means during their arrest, the police should not use any excessive force that could possibly cause that person bodily harm. If excessive force is used, the individual has the right to defend themselves. It equates to assault or battery by a…
It’s generally difficult to prove a case of police misconduct. Law enforcement has been granted a pretty broad range of authority when pursuing cases, although this doesn’t mean they’re always invincible. There are still federal and even state level laws that impact how an officer must carry out his or her duties. A violation of…
Police brutality is a huge problem in Michigan and the United States in general. It occurs when a police officer engages in abusive conduct that causes harm to a person physically or psychologically. Victims can be left with long-lasting effects that linger for the rest of their lives. While physical wounds may heal, the psychological…
