Government Liability for Constitutional Violations by Law Enforcement Officers
This bill makes it easier for citizens to seek financial compensation from federal, state, and local governments when their constitutional rights are violated by law enforcement officers. It establishes that the government entity is directly responsible for the actions of its officers, even if the violation was not part of an official policy or custom. This change aims to incentivize better hiring, training, and supervision of police departments.
Key points
Federal, state, and local governments become financially liable for constitutional violations committed by their law enforcement employees.
Citizens no longer need to prove the violation resulted from an official government policy or custom to sue the entity.
The law waives sovereign immunity, allowing victims to sue state and federal governments directly for damages caused by officers.
Introduced
Citizen Poll