This course provides students with an overview of Constitutional rights and civil liability issues. Various forms of law enforcement officer misconduct and negligence can result in civil liability under state law, the Maine Tort Claims Act, and federal law, §1983 of the federal Civil Rights Act. Students will gain an understanding of how law enforcement officers actions or inactions may result in civil liability for themselves and their agencies. Law enforcement officers’ actions or inactions may also result in exposure to state or federal criminal charges, as well as a discipline under agency policy, and decertification by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
