Excessive force and abuse in jail or prison

Although police officers and prison guards are imbued with state authority to use force when they need to apprehend a suspect or deal with violent prisoners, the police are not authorized to use unreasonable or excessive force under the circumstances facing them. This is just as important in prisons as it is on the street.

Excessive force can sometimes occur when individual prison guards get overzealous or overexcited, when they seek to punish instead of apprehend, or at times as a tactic to attempt to cover up their own misconduct. Whatever the motivation or the circumstances, prison guards should not abuse their authority to use physical force on prisoners.

At the Civil Rights Litigation Group, we specialize in taking prison guards and officials “to the mat” in federal court regarding their use of excessive force, whether the force involved includes:

• Tackling
• Kicking
• Punching
• Choking
• Tasering
• Martial arts
• Baton strikes
• Nachachku
• Excessively tight handcuffs
• Firearms
• Etc.

Abuse of power

Because of the nature of a prison guard’s job and the safety of the prison or jail where they work, it can be hard or confusing to determine if excessive force was used. However it’s important to remember that excessive force is illegal and any prison guards using such force should be held accountable for their actions.

Excessive force is just one example of a person in power abusing his or her position of authority. Abuse of power can also be verbal and shown through a series of actions, such as discrimination, denial of care, or harassment. It’s important to know and demand your civil rights, and know who to call when those rights have been violated — even in prison.

Contact the Civil Rights Litigation Group today

Prison guards who use unnecessary violence or excessive force should not be permitted to roam the streets to hurt someone else. If you or a family member or friend has been a victim of prison guard abuse or excessive force, contact the lawyers at the Civil Rights Litigation Group to discuss whether the force used was appropriate and reasonable in your case.

Give us a call today at (720) 515-6165.