Report a Civil
Rights Violation

Immediately After the Incident

• 1. Write everything down as soon as possible. Memory fades quickly — within 24 hours you will forget critical details.
• 2. Record the date, time, and exact location of the incident. Note the street address or intersection, city, and state.
• 3. Identify the officers: badge numbers, patrol car numbers, department name, physical descriptions (height, build, hair color, distinguishing features).
• 4. Document injuries with photographs. Take photos from multiple angles, include close-ups and full-body shots showing context.
• 5. Seek medical attention and keep all medical records. Medical documentation creates an official record of injuries.
• 6. Identify witnesses: Get names, phone numbers, and email addresses of anyone who saw the incident.
• 7. Preserve all evidence: Save video/audio recordings to the cloud immediately. Back up to multiple locations.

What to Include in Your Written Account

• ● What were you doing before the encounter began?
• ● What did the officer(s) say? Quote exact words when possible.
• ● What did you say? Quote your exact responses.
• ● What physical actions did the officer(s) take? Be specific and chronological.
• ● Were you handcuffed? How tightly? For how long?
• ● Were weapons drawn? Tasers deployed? Chemical agents used?
• ● Were you searched? Did you consent or refuse consent?
• ● Was anything seized from you? List all items.

Common Documentation Mistakes

• ✗ Waiting too long to write down details — document within hours, not days.
• ✗ Posting about the incident on social media before consulting an attorney.
• ✗ Washing clothes or discarding items that may contain evidence of force.
• ✗ Failing to get witness contact information at the scene.
• ✗ Storing video evidence only on your phone (phones can be confiscated or broken).

How to File

• 1. Locate your department's IA division. Search "[City] police internal affairs complaint" or call the department's non-emergency number and ask for Internal Affairs.
• 2. Request a complaint form. Most departments are legally required to provide complaint forms. Some offer online submission.
• 3. File in writing. While many departments accept verbal complaints, written complaints create a paper trail and are taken more seriously.
• 4. Keep a copy of everything. Make copies of your complaint form, any attachments, and get a receipt or tracking number.
• 5. Send via certified mail. If mailing, use certified mail with return receipt to prove delivery.
• 6. Follow up. Ask about the investigation timeline. Most departments have 30–180 day investigation windows.

Complaint Letter Template

Important Warnings

• ⚠ Some departments try to discourage complaints. They may require you to come in person, tell you the officer "acted properly," or warn you about "false complaint" penalties. You have the right to file.
• ⚠ In many jurisdictions, filing a false police complaint is a crime. Only file truthful complaints based on what actually happened.
• ⚠ IA investigations are conducted by police investigating police. Historically, fewer than 10% of IA complaints result in discipline. This is why filing with multiple agencies is important.
• ⚠ There may be a statute of limitations for filing. Check your local department's policy — many require complaints within 60–180 days.

How to File with the DOJ

• 1. Online: Visit civilrights.justice.gov/report to submit a complaint through the DOJ's Civil Rights Division portal.
• 2. By phone: Call the Civil Rights Division at (202) 514-3847 or toll-free at (855) 856-1247.
• 3. By mail: Write to U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530.
• 4. Contact your local U.S. Attorney's Office. Federal prosecutors can investigate criminal civil rights violations under 18 U.S.C. § 242.

What the DOJ Can Do

• ● Criminal prosecution of officers who willfully deprive individuals of their civil rights under 18 U.S.C. § 242.
• ● "Pattern or practice" investigations under 42 U.S.C. § 14141 to examine systemic misconduct within an entire police department.
• ● Consent decrees — court-enforced agreements requiring departments to reform policies, training, and oversight.
• ● Technical assistance to departments voluntarily seeking to improve practices.

Key Federal Statutes

• 18 U.S.C. § 242: Makes it a federal crime for anyone acting under "color of law" to willfully deprive a person of their constitutional rights. Penalties range from fines to life imprisonment (if death results).
• 42 U.S.C. § 14141: Authorizes the DOJ to investigate police departments engaged in a "pattern or practice" of violating civil rights and to seek court orders for reform.
• 42 U.S.C. § 1983: Allows individuals to sue state and local officials (including police officers) for civil rights violations in federal court.

What Are Civilian Oversight Boards?

• ● Independent bodies composed of community members (not police officers) who review complaints about police conduct.
• ● Over 200 oversight agencies exist in the United States, operating in major cities and some counties.
• ● Their authority varies significantly. Some can subpoena witnesses and records, others can only make recommendations.
• ● Types include: review-focused (review IA investigations), investigative (conduct their own investigations), auditor/monitor (systemic oversight).

How to File

• 1. Search "[Your City] civilian oversight board" or "[Your City] police review commission" to find your local board.
• 2. Many boards accept complaints online, by mail, by phone, or in person.
• 3. Provide the same detailed information as you would for an IA complaint: who, what, when, where, witnesses, evidence.
• 4. Ask about the board's authority — can they discipline officers, or only recommend discipline?

Notable Civilian Oversight Boards

• New York City CCRB: One of the oldest and most powerful. Can investigate, make findings, and recommend prosecution.
• Chicago COPA: Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Investigates use-of-force, bias, and misconduct.
• Los Angeles Police Commission: Civilian board that oversees LAPD. Reviews use-of-force incidents.
• San Francisco DPA: Department of Police Accountability. Investigates complaints and conducts policy reviews.
• Seattle OPA: Office of Police Accountability. Created under DOJ consent decree.

Who to Contact

• ● Mayor: In most cities, the mayor appoints the police chief and controls the police budget. This is often the most effective local contact.
• ● City Council members: They approve the police budget and can pass oversight legislation. Contact your district representative.
• ● County commissioners/supervisors: They oversee the sheriff's department and county police.
• ● State legislators: They can pass police reform bills, mandate body cameras, create oversight boards, or change use-of-force standards.
• ● Governor: Can issue executive orders on policing, appoint task forces, and direct the state attorney general.
• ● U.S. Representatives and Senators: Can push for federal police reform legislation and pressure the DOJ to investigate.

Tips for Effective Contact

• ● Phone calls are more effective than emails. Ask to speak with the staffer handling public safety issues.
• ● Be specific about what you want: an investigation, a policy change, support for a specific bill.
• ● Organize others to call. Volume matters — officials track how many constituents contact them on an issue.
• ● Attend town halls and public meetings. Speaking at a public forum creates a public record and media attention.
• ● Use usa.gov/elected-officials to find your representatives at every level of government.

When to Go Public

• ● When internal complaint channels have failed or been ignored.
• ● When there is a pattern of similar complaints from multiple victims.
• ● When you have strong video or photographic evidence.
• ● When public awareness could protect others from the same officer or policy.

Critical Warnings

• ✗ Always consult an attorney first. Public statements can be used against you in court.
• ✗ Do not exaggerate or add details that didn't happen. Stick to the facts.
• ✗ Be aware that media coverage can bring both support and harassment. Prepare for public scrutiny.
• ✗ Once something is published, you cannot take it back. Be careful and deliberate.

How to Reach Journalists

• ● Contact investigative reporters who cover policing and criminal justice at your local newspaper or TV station.
• ● National outlets: ProPublica, The Marshall Project, The Intercept, and The Washington Post all cover police accountability.
• ● Prepare a one-page summary of your case with key facts, dates, and evidence available.
• ● Local TV news tip lines are often the fastest way to get initial coverage.

How to Report

• 1. Find your state ACLU affiliate: Visit aclu.org/affiliates to find your state chapter.
• 2. Submit an intake form: Most state affiliates have an online legal intake form for requesting assistance.
• 3. Call the national hotline: The ACLU national office can be reached at (212) 549-2500.
• 4. Provide detailed information: Include all documentation, evidence, and prior complaint filings.

What the ACLU Can Do

• ● Litigation: The ACLU files lawsuits on behalf of individuals and classes of people whose rights have been violated.
• ● Advocacy: They lobby for legislative reforms at state and federal levels.
• ● Referrals: Even if the ACLU cannot take your case directly, they often refer you to attorneys who specialize in your type of claim.
• ● Know Your Rights resources: The ACLU publishes detailed rights guides for police encounters, protests, immigration enforcement, and more.

Important Notes

• ⚠ The ACLU receives thousands of requests and cannot take every case. They prioritize cases with the greatest potential for systemic impact.
• ⚠ Response times vary. State affiliates generally respond faster than the national office.
• ⚠ The ACLU is not a substitute for a personal attorney. If you need immediate legal representation, seek a civil rights attorney directly.

How to Report

• 1. Online: Submit a case through naacpldf.org/take-action.
• 2. By mail: Write to NAACP Legal Defense Fund, 40 Rector Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006.
• 3. By phone: Call (212) 965-2200 to reach the national office.
• 4. Contact your local NAACP branch: Visit naacp.org/find-local-unit to find your local chapter.

What LDF Focuses On

• ● Police misconduct and excessive force cases, particularly those involving racial discrimination.
• ● Systemic policing reform through litigation, advocacy, and public education.
• ● Voting rights, education, economic justice, and criminal justice reform.
• ● Impact litigation: LDF brings cases that can change law and policy at a national level, including landmark Supreme Court cases.

Historical Impact

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): LDF argued the landmark case ending school segregation before the Supreme Court.
• Shelley v. Kraemer (1948): LDF successfully challenged racially restrictive housing covenants.
• Modern policing reform: LDF continues to litigate against stop-and-frisk, racial profiling, and discriminatory policing policies nationwide.

State Attorneys General — Civil Rights Divisions

Every state Attorney General's office has a civil rights division or similar unit. They can investigate patterns of police misconduct and take enforcement action.

State Civil Rights Commissions

Many states have independent civil rights commissions or human rights agencies that investigate discrimination complaints, including racial profiling and biased policing.

• Notable examples: Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), Illinois Human Rights Commission, New York Division of Human Rights, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
• How to find yours: Search "[Your State] civil rights commission" or "[Your State] human rights commission."
• What they investigate: Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and sometimes sexual orientation and gender identity in law enforcement interactions.

States with Special Police Accountability Laws

• Colorado (SB 20-217): Eliminated qualified immunity for police officers. Individuals can sue officers directly for civil rights violations.
• New Mexico (HB 4): Also eliminated qualified immunity. Created a statutory right to sue for civil rights violations.
• Connecticut (HB 6004): Limited qualified immunity and mandated body cameras for all police.
• Maryland (Police Reform Acts): Created a statewide use-of-force standard, limited no-knock warrants, and established the Maryland Police Accountability Board.
• Washington (HB 1310): Established new use-of-force standards emphasizing de-escalation.
• New York (Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act): Criminalized chokeholds and other forms of restraint that restrict breathing.

Investigation Timeline

• ● Acknowledgment: Most agencies will confirm receipt of your complaint within 1–2 weeks.
• ● Internal Affairs investigations: Typically take 30–180 days. Complex cases may take longer.
• ● Civilian oversight investigations: Usually 60–120 days, depending on case complexity.
• ● DOJ investigations: Can take months to years. Pattern-and-practice investigations are particularly lengthy.
• ● Civil lawsuits (Section 1983): Federal civil rights lawsuits typically take 1–3 years to resolve. Many settle before trial.

Possible Outcomes

• ● Sustained: The investigation found the officer committed the alleged misconduct. This can lead to discipline (reprimand, suspension, demotion, termination).
• ● Not Sustained: There was insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation.
• ● Exonerated: The incident occurred, but the officer's actions were deemed lawful and proper.
• ● Unfounded: The investigation determined the incident did not occur as described.
• ● Mediation: Some agencies offer mediation between the complainant and officer as an alternative to formal investigation.

If Your Complaint Is Not Sustained

• ● Appeal: Many agencies allow you to appeal the finding. Ask about the appeals process.
• ● File with another agency: An IA finding does not prevent you from filing with the DOJ, ACLU, or pursuing a civil lawsuit.
• ● Consult a civil rights attorney: Even if an administrative complaint fails, you may have a viable civil lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
• ● Your complaint still matters: Even unfounded complaints create a paper trail. If multiple people complain about the same officer, patterns emerge that can trigger broader investigations.

Statute of Limitations Warnings

• ✗ Section 1983 lawsuits: Governed by your state's personal injury statute of limitations — typically 1–3 years from the date of the incident.
• ✗ Federal criminal charges (18 U.S.C. § 242): Generally 5 years, but no time limit if the violation resulted in death.
• ✗ Administrative complaints: Many departments require filing within 60–180 days. Do not delay.
• ✗ Bottom line: File as soon as possible. Evidence degrades, witnesses forget, and deadlines pass. Time is never on your side.