Under United States law, people have the power to sue state & local officials for violating someone’s CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (such as excessive force.) This allows people to get damages, or money for medical expenses, emotional distress, injury, or death. However, the Supreme Court introduced a legal tool called QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, which protects the officials from lawsuits unless they break ‘clearly established law.’ In order for these officials to be held accountable, a person must prove that previous court case law has shown their actions are unconstitutional. However, the problem with this, is that one must prove that the actions of the offender, the actions of the police officer (excessive force), and the location where the situation took place, all must match the characteristics of previous cases. Every situation is different in some way, so it is hard to prove any type of ‘clearly established law.’ In Louisiana, when police are sued and found accountable for using excessive force, the local sheriff’s office or police department pay for most lawsuit costs and settlements. (THIS MEANS YOU PAY FOR THEIR ACTIONS THROUGH YOUR TAXES.)

HB48/51 will change the law so that police officers would no longer have this immunity, which is why we need YOUR support. STOP PAYING FOR THEIR ACTIONS. This means they will be held accountable in court and pay for their actions. This means they will think twice about their actions when doing searches and seizures, arrests, and traffic stops. SUPPORT House Bill 48/51.

 -Written & Produced By: LaREFORM

HB51​ / HB48