CIVIL RIGHTS

Police brutality and wrongful convictions continue to be serious problems in New York. When a victim of excessive force is injured or killed by the police or a corrections officer, it takes the skills and dedication of an experienced attorney to find justice.

Mark Marino has been practicing law for over twenty years and fighting for the victims of unlawful harm or treatment at the hands of police officers, prison guards, and prosecutors for fifteen years. Mr. Marino believes that all lives have value and every individual has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

WRONGFUL CONVICTION

Benjamin Franklin once said, “It is better to have one hundred guilty persons escape conviction than allow one innocent person to be wrongfully convicted.” Unfortunately, in New York and across the country, there are many individuals who have spent years – sometimes decades – falsely imprisoned for crimes that they never committed. These convictions derail the lives of those involved. The wrongfully accused is convicted for a crime that they never committed and forced to spend years behind bars, their freedom having been robbed from them. Meanwhile, their families are forced to be without them, parents are left without children, and children are left without parents.

Even if they are lucky enough to be later exonerated, wrongfully convicted persons are unable to regain the time they lost and are set free into a world that they no longer know, having to put the pieces of their lives back together on their own. In addition, these wrongful convictions erode confidence in the criminal justice system, which many believe has protections in place to prevent such egregious injustices.

FORMS OF BRUTALITY BY THE POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS

There have been numerous high-profile cases of police officers overstepping their authority, but many incidents of abuse never see the light of day. Unarmed individuals can be harmed by a number of police tactics, including:

Tasers – These devices send a powerful electrical force through the body that can bring a person down without the use of deadly force. However, if not used properly, a taser can cause cardiac arrest, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Pepper Spray – This tool can be deployed to disarm individuals who pose a serious threat of disperse groups during a confrontation. However, it can trigger respiratory distress or illness if used excessively or on a person with a health condition.

Chokeholds – Although this tactic has long been banned, police officers continue to place suspects in chokeholds, which could render a victim unconscious, causing serious bodily damage and even death.

Battery/Excessive Force – This form of police misconduct involves the unnecessary application of excessive force, including punching or kicking the victim, throwing the victim against a wall or the ground, or beating the victim with police batons. This can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries or death.

Police shootings – In some cases, the use of force escalates beyond control and involves a shooting. Although there are specific rules for when the police are allowed to fire a weapon, suspects and innocent bystanders have been injured or killed in negligent police shootings.

If you were injured because of the conduct of a police officer, it is crucial to stand up for your rights and file a police harassment claim. All members of law enforcement have a responsibility to not use excessive force that can cause harm to suspects and bystanders. Our firm is dedicated to helping victims of police brutality obtain the compensation they deserve.

CORRECTIONS OFFICER ABUSE

Prison guards have the responsibility for maintaining the prison system while also keeping inmates safe. Although prison guards often face violent situations, some corrections officers abuse their power, sometimes using excessive force against inmates or even sexually assaulting prisoners. The violent assault of inmates is common and often involves unwarranted beating, hitting, and kicking prisoners.

The unnecessary use of force or a weapon against a defenseless inmate can lead to serious injuries and even death. Even more shocking is sexual assault of inmates by prison guards, and prisoners are sexually victimized more often than many people realize. This form of abuse can occur verbally or through physical contact, and the latter can lead to severe physical injuries.

Whether these incidents occur in correctional facilities in New York City or nearby counties, corrections officers have a responsibility to protect inmates and to treat each prisoner equally and fairly. Despite these obligations, prison guards often bully certain inmates and severely beat helpless prisoners.

Although many inmates do not have the resources to protect themselves, it is possible to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the City or other municipality to obtain compensation. These cases are complicated because the court will ultimately determine whether the prison guard was acting lawfully and will base its decision on a case by case basis. If you or a loved one was injured by the willful conduct of a corrections officer, it is crucial to have a dedicated attorney fighting for your rights.

DEDICATED POLICE/CORRECTIONS OFFICER MISCONDUCT ATTORNEY

Mark Marino has extensive experience pursuing claims against police departments and correctional facilities in New York. Although these cases are difficult to prove and the government has an unfair advantage over abused suspects and inmates, Mr. Marino has the knowledge and skills to level the playing field. Call our office or fill out a contact form today for a free consultation.