What to Do After Police Misconduct

1. Get medical care

   Go to a hospital or your doctor, even if your injuries seem minor. Medical records are evidence of what happened and when.

2. Photograph your injuries

   Take photos every day for at least a week, and photograph any damage to your clothing, phone or property.

3. Write down what happened

   As soon as you can: the date, time and place, what was said, officers’ names and badge numbers, and patrol car numbers.

4. Find the witnesses

   Get the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw what happened, including people who filmed it.

5. Save the video

   Back up any video from your own phone. Note every nearby camera - stores, homes, buses. Outside footage is often recorded over within days. See how to get body-camera footage.

6. Keep every paper

   Keep anything police or a court gave you, every receipt and medical bill, and a list of work you missed.

7. Stay off social media

   Don’t post about what happened, and don’t discuss it with police or insurance adjusters until you have spoken to a lawyer.

8. Know the deadlines

   State-law claims against a New Jersey town, county or state agency generally require a written notice of claim within 90 days. Federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 generally must be filed within two years.

9. Call a civil rights lawyer

   A free, confidential consultation will tell you which claims you have and which deadlines apply. Call 201-420-1913, 24/7.

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