Civil Liability Issues for the Criminal Justice Profession

Catalog description

This course will explore the issues faced by criminal justice practitioners regarding civil liability for their actions. Topics will include civil liability under both state and federal tort law, Section 1983 litigation, risk management and defenses to liability, administrative and supervisory liability issues, failure to train, use of force, custodial deaths, and personnel issues as they relate to liability. Objectives for the course require that the students will be able to recognize how federal and state laws govern liability throughout the criminal justice system and students will be able to describe and understand how tort laws frame the legal guidelines that executive leadership must be aware and how it evolves into departmental policies.