Police Misconduct
The Law Offices of Al Hofeld, Jr. LLC
An Experienced Police Misconduct Civil Rights Law Firm
The Law Offices of Al Hofeld, Jr., LLC, is an experienced Chicago police misconduct civil rights law firm. There are many types of police misconduct that violate a citizen’s civil or constitutional rights.
We help victims of police misconduct without resources to overcome their traumatic experience and obtain justice for the violations of their rights. We fight successfully for our clients in both federal and state court. As an experienced Chicago police misconduct law firm, we accept cases on contigency and work tirelessly to pursue justice for our clients.
If you believe that you have suffered a violation of your civil rights from police misconduct and are looking for a Chicago police misconduct attorney, call our Chicago police misconduct law firm today at (773) 241-5844.
Illegal Search & Seizure
An illegal search and seizure happens when a law enforcement officer enters, searches, and/or seizes your property without a valid search warrant or reasonable suspicion to believe that you possess evidence from a crime.
Illegal search and seizure is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from invasions of privacy. Therefore, law enforcement must present a valid search warrant, which must be all of the following:
- Filed By A Law Enforcement Officer In Good Faith
- Based On Information That Is Reliable & Has Probable Cause
- Signed By A Judge That Is Neutral & Not Associated With The Case
- Featuring Specific Instruction On The Location That Can Be Searched & What Items Can Be Seized
If law enforcement has searched and/or seized your property without a valid search warrant, the police cannot use this evidence in court. Therefore, it’s important to get help from a police misconduct attorney in Chicago if you suspect that you are a victim of an illegal search.
If you are unsure of whether or not your property’s seizure was legal, a Chicago police misconduct attorney can help you discern. Every case is different, and a Chicago police misconduct lawyer will work closely with you to determine if the search and seizure was lawful or unlawful.
Unjustified Police Shootings
Unjustified police shootings are one of the worst and most horrific forms of police misconduct. Whether you have lost a loved one as a result of an unjustified police shooting or if you’ve been a victim of a non-lethal police shooting, you need a police misconduct civil rights attorney.
Police firearms should only be used in the most extreme circumstances; however, this is not always the case. Law enforcement officers are trained to try all non-lethal means to de-escalate the situation before resorting to using their firearm.
Unfortunately, some police officers resort to shooting far before it’s necessary, which results in an unjustified police shooting. At Al Hofeld Law, we believe that these police officers need to be held accountable for using excessive force in this way.
A Chicago police misconduct law firm will gather all of the necessary evidence to prove that the shooting was unjustified and seek a settlement for you or your loved one. At Al Hofeld Law, we know that no amount of money can repair the damage that unjustified police shootings cause, but it’s still important to take action to prevent similar actions from occurring in the future.
Excessive Force
Every United States citizen is protected by the Constitution from the use of excessive force by law enforcement. However, unfortunately, excessive force is one of the most common forms of police misconduct.
The use of excessive force refers to the police’s use of force greater than what is reasonably believed to be necessary. A police officer might use excessive force during an arrest, investigation, or seizure. Listed below are some of the common examples of excessive force:
- Shooting/Use Of A Firearm Without Necessity
- Use Of A Taser Without Necessity
- Hurting Suspects After They Are Restrained
Additionally, a police officer can be held liable for failing to prevent another law enforcement officer from using excessive force. If you have suffered injuries from excessive force or if you feel as though your constitutional rights have been violated, you can benefit from the help of a police misconduct attorney in Chicago.
Cases concerning excessive force are not easy to fight because decisions about what level of force is necessary can be discretionary and subjective. A Chicago police misconduct lawyer can demonstrate why the amount of force used was unnecessary and unreasonable to de-escalate the situation or restrain someone.
Your police misconduct attorney in Chicago will work closely with you to uncover how and why your situation would be considered excessive force. No detail is too small for cases concerning excessive force, and your lawyer will go over everything to help you be successful.
A police misconduct civil rights attorney can help you file a civil rights complaint, represent you in court, and ultimately demonstrate to the jury why the force used by police was excessive and/or unnecessary.
Police Brutality
Police brutality and police misconduct go hand-in-hand. Similar to police misconduct, cases of police brutality, unfortunately, continue to occur in Chicago. Police brutality is a form of police misconduct that involves a law enforcement officer abusing their power which is usually done through violence, excessive force, and/or racial abuse.
Police brutality is often a result of poor training of law enforcement officers, but this does not justify their actions. The police are sworn to protect the lives of all citizens, and abuses of power are inexcusable. A police misconduct attorney in Chicago can help you fight back against the injustices that you or a loved one has experienced.
If you have experienced police brutality, it’s important to take action now before it’s too late. Our expert legal professionals at Al Hofeld Law can guide you through the process and advocate on your behalf so that you reach a fair and just verdict.
We can help. Please reach out.
Tell us about your situation.
The Law Offices of Al Hofeld, Jr. LLC
Ph: (773) 241-5844
Fx: (312) 988-0057
info@alhofeldlaw.com
53 W. Jackson, Suite 432
Chicago, IL 60604