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Articles on Qualified immunity

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A sign held at a protest against police brutality on Jan. 28, 2023, in New York City. Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress

Tyre Nichols’ death prompts calls for federal legislation to promote police reform – but Congress can’t do much about fixing local police

Since Tyre Nichols’ death there are renewed calls for Congress to pass police reform legislation. But the federal government has almost no control over state and local police departments.
Body camera footage shows a Virginia police officer pepper-spraying a Black U.S. Army officer during a traffic stop in December 2020. Windsor Police via AP

How qualified immunity protects police officers accused of wrongdoing

Police officers who kill, injure or violate the rights of citizens are often not held accountable, even in civil court – because in most cases, they can’t be sued for official acts.

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