Understanding Qualified Immunity and Why It Matters in Ohio
As a member of the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity, we believe that it is important to educate the public on the issue of qualified immunity and its impact on our communities. In this blog post, we will explain what qualified immunity is, how it affects law enforcement accountability, and why it is important to work towards ending it in Ohio.
Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that shields government officials, including law enforcement officers, from being held personally liable for civil damages as long as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. This means that even if an officer violates someone's constitutional rights, they may not be held liable if the law on that specific issue was not clearly established at the time of the violation.
This doctrine has led to numerous cases where officers who have engaged in misconduct or used excessive force have been able to avoid accountability. It has also made it difficult for victims of the misconduct or rogue officers to seek justice and compensation for their injuries. In Ohio, this has led to a lack of accountability for law enforcement officers and has hindered the ability for citizens to seek justice for misconduct.
That is why Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity is working to end this doctrine in Ohio. We believe that all government officials, including law enforcement officers, should be held accountable for their actions. Ending qualified immunity would help ensure that victims of misconduct have the ability to seek justice and would promote transparency and accountability within law enforcement.
As citizens of Ohio, it is important that we understand the impact of qualified immunity and work towards ending it in our state. We encourage the public to learn more about the issue, join our coalition and support our efforts to end qualified immunity in Ohio. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by misconduct and bring about positive change in our communities.
