Qualified Immunity: A Barrier to Police Accountability

Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that protects government officials, including police officers, from being held personally liable for actions taken in the course of their official duties. This doctrine was created with the intention of giving officers some leeway in the enforcement of the law in situations where the law was not clear. However, the implementation of this doctrine has backfired and resulted in widespread protection for police officers and their departments, even in cases where they have clearly violated the law or civil rights.

This has created a culture of impunity, where officers are often above reproach and immune from prosecution or litigation, regardless of the severity of their actions. The abuse of qualified immunity has become a major concern for those seeking accountability and justice and has fueled widespread anger and frustration towards the police and the legal system as a whole.