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Government, Benefits & Rights

Civil Rights & Police Misconduct

Excessive force, wrongful arrest, discrimination by government, First Amendment retaliation. What a civil rights lawyer does and how to find one near you.

Civil rights law lets people sue government officials and entities — police, jails, schools, agencies — for violating constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and private businesses for discrimination in housing, public accommodations and lending. These cases face special defenses like qualified immunity and short notice requirements, and are usually taken on contingency with fee-shifting if you win.

What a civil rights lawyer does

  • Investigates incidents with body-cam, records requests and witnesses
  • Files § 1983 suits for excessive force, false arrest, and jail medical neglect
  • Pursues housing, disability-access and public-accommodation discrimination claims
  • Litigates First Amendment, due-process and equal-protection violations

When you need a civil rights lawyer

  • You were injured by police or jail staff, or arrested without cause
  • A loved one died or was seriously harmed in custody
  • A government agency or official retaliated against you for speech or complaints
  • You were denied housing, service or access because of a protected characteristic

Questions to ask before you hire a civil rights lawyer

  1. What notice deadlines apply to claims against this city or county?
  2. How does qualified immunity affect my case?
  3. Have you tried civil rights cases to verdict?
  4. How do you preserve video before it is deleted?

Find a civil rights lawyer near you

Choose your state to see listed firms and the official bar directory for verifying any lawyer’s license.