Reform of Qualified Immunity for Police Officers : A Pathway to Legislative Reform

Qualified immunity for police officers in the United States is a broken legal doctrine that needs Congressional legislative remedy; however, police qualified immunity does not need to be eliminated. It must be reformed. Over the past 4 months of diligent and focused research, analysis, and scrutiny from diversely experienced policing officials, criminal and civil law attorneys, academicians, and community leaders, the Institute for American Police Reform has identified a fair and pragmatic standard for reforming qualified immunity. Although this White Paper discusses reform at the federal level, reform of qualified immunity for police officers should also occur at the state level and indeed, already has in several states. State level reform can include additional levers such as damage caps, indemnification policies, insurance requirements, or fee-shifting