Civil Rights / Police Misconduct
Civil Rights Attorney in Albuquerque, NM
The police have numerous powers at their disposal to investigate and prevent crime. Nonetheless, these powers must be used in conjunction with the civil rights of individuals. Unfortunately, there are occasions when the police overstep boundaries and cross the line into civil rights violations.
At Ahmad Assed & Associates, our attorneys take the civil rights of New Mexican citizens very seriously. If you feel like your rights have been violated and the police acted inappropriately, they can help you pursue justice.
Common Civil Rights Violations
All New Mexico citizens are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Innocent people should not be arrested. Unfortunately, this can happen when the police engage in misconduct or don’t follow the proper procedures
Understand Civil Rights and Civil Rights Violations
Civil rights are the basic rights that every citizen has under the laws of their government. In the United States, the Constitution and other state and federal laws protect these rights. A civil rights violation occurs when an individual or institution deliberately infringes on these fundamental rights. Unlawful arrest is one common example of a civil rights violation. This occurs when an individual has been arrested without probable cause. Examples of other common civil rights violations include:
- Physical attacks: Unwarranted and nonconsensual contacts that cause harm
- False arrests: When someone is detained without proper legal justification
- Useless and embarrassing strip searches: Searches conducted without probable cause and that may degrade the dignity of the individual
- Sexual violations: Unauthorized, nonconsensual sexual acts committed against another person
- Bullying, blackmail or intimidation: Tactics that coerce or forcefully persuade someone in a manner that violates their rights
- Racial profiling: A discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or nationality
- Violations of prisoner rights: Breaches of the legal rights that prisoners are entitled to under the law
If you’ve been falsely accused of a criminal offense or have suffered another type of civil rights violation, our New Mexico civil rights lawyers can fight for you. They have handled a wide variety of civil rights injustices for victims across the state. They dedicate their efforts to protect the rights of individuals and ensure that justice is served. They are committed to fighting for civil rights and advocating for those who have suffered wrongs.
Police Brutality and Excessive Use Of Force
Police officers are allowed to use reasonable force when making a lawful arrest. The force must be proportionate to the situation. Unfortunately, some officers use excessive force, which amounts to police misconduct. The police should not discharge weapons on individuals when either they know that the individual is not armed or they have no reason to believe that the individual is armed. Officers must also not use physical force on individuals who are not resisting. The use of reasonable force also extends to those who are in custody. Police officers and prison staff have no right to cause physical harm to those who are in custody or are awaiting trial.
Trust Ahmad Assed & Associates to Help You Navigate Your Personal Injury Case
Sadly, thousands of people suffer civil rights violations in New Mexico every year. This includes wrongful arrests, injuries in custody and even fatalities. If your rights have been violated, then it’s essential to contact one of our New Mexico civil rights lawyers as soon as possible.