Civil Rights

The term “civil rights” is used to categorize a variety of freedoms or privileges that we have as citizens of the United States, that have been enumerated in our United States Constitution, or even the Pennsylvania Constitution. Specifically, a civil right is something provided to citizens through our Bill of Rights to protect them from government intrusion. Sometimes, these rights are explained more fully through statutes enacted by Congress, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but most at least have their basis in the Constitution.

Usually, the most common civil right that people discuss is “discrimination,” or the right to be free from discrimination based on their race, religion, sex, or national origin. However civil rights can cover a mixture of privileges such as: freedom of speech or religion, right to bear arms, or freedom from excessive force from the police. The key is that it is a right that has been listed in the Constitution or statute.

Your civil rights are protected from government intrusion under Federal Law 42 U.S.C §1983, which states:

“Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress…”

Examples of Civil Rights cases with which we can help:

With over 30 years of experience, our civil rights attorneys have been helping those who are facing civil rights challenges including discrimination, police brutality, freedom of religion, false arrest or unlawful detention, freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and cruel and unusual punishment. We’re proud to serve our neighbors in Lancaster, York, Mechanicsburg, and Gettysburg.

Freedom of Religion

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Although the case precedent on the First Amendment is continually evolving, the courts have interpreted this language to essentially mean that the government must balance the two rights. The government’s laws and officials must refrain from endorsing a religion, while still allowing citizen’s to freely exercise their beliefs. Often these two adverse principles come into direct conflict with each other.

False Arrest or Unlawful Detention

Similar to police brutality, a citizen’s right to be free from unlawful search and seizure and false arrest and imprisonment is protected by the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” The main focus of these cases rests on the need for probable cause or reasonable suspicion that an officer must have to detain, arrest, or search a suspect.

Civil Rights Law Resources

Freedom of Speech

In addition to regulating the government’s intrusion of religion, the First Amendment also protects citizens’ right to free speech. The Supreme Court has determined that there can be some limitations to speech, but it usually relates to time and place restrictions, rather than a restriction based on content of the speech.

Right to Bear Arms

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution has been recently coming under attack with more regulations on gun ownership being put into place. The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” In Pennsylvania, we have additional protection, as our Pennsylvania Constitution says, “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” The most common civil right challenged in the courts under this amendment is the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. These are most often claims for excessive force or unlawful treatment by correctional officers, or for failure to release after a sentence has expired.