Civil Rights

Governors have the authority to call out their state’s National Guard when they believe it’s necessary. (So does the president.) Oftentimes, Guard members are used to help keep order and assist after a natural disaster. Other times, they’re used when there’s a serious...

The New Mexico Civil Rights Act (NMCRA) was signed into law in April 2021. This piece of legislation represents a significant development in the protection of individual rights across the state. Designed to enhance accountability and give everyday citizens a clear...

You value your privacy, so you have your cellphone locked. No one can use it without typing in a passcode or using biometric data. For instance, maybe you have a fingerprint scanner on the phone, which prevents unauthorized entry unless you give someone else a code....

Protesting has long been a way for people to show their dissatisfaction and desire for change. Several historical protests have signaled an end to the status quo and the beginning of a new era, such as the Boston Tea Party or the Montgomery Bus Boycott. By peacefully...

Police officers have the authority to arrest civilians, but they must do so lawfully and within the bounds of the law. It is possible for police to violate someone’s rights by performing a wrongful arrest. For example, there was a case in which a person wanted to file...

Government entities do have the right to create certain rules and regulations that must be followed. However, it’s illegal for them to set up rules that violate constitutional rights, such as the right to free speech, guaranteed by the First Amendment. A recent case...

When someone dies due to the wrongful actions of police or government officials, families may have grounds to pursue justice under federal law. Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act is a powerful legal tool to address constitutional violations by state and local...

There have long been issues with police officers discriminating or allowing bias to influence their decisions. If African-American men are arrested at a higher rate than Caucasian men, for example, it could be because the officers hold inherent biases. They make...

Law enforcement may conduct a search and seizure of a home, vehicle or property to collect incriminating evidence. There are a few legal ways the police can conduct a search and seizure, including: Permission from a property owner or resident Court-ordered warrant...

There are many ways for police officers to violate the rights of members of the public. Occasionally, police officers falsely arrest people who did not commit a crime and cause them significant hardship in the process. Oftentimes, members of the public do their best...