How to Report Police Misconduct: Your Rights and the Correct Process

Last reviewed: June 1, 2026 · Written by James Carter, Consumer Rights Researcher · Reviewed by HowToReport Editorial Desk · Independent resource — not a government site

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [ { “@type”: “HowTo”, “name”: “How to Report Police Misconduct: Your Rights and the Correct Process”, “totalTime”: “PT10M”, “estimatedCost”: { “@type”: “MonetaryAmount”, “currency”: “USD”, “value”: “0” }, “step”: [ { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 1, “name”: “Step 1”, “text”: “Document everything as soon as possible. Write down exactly what happened — date, time, location, officer names or badge numbers, patrol car numbers, what was said, and what actions were taken. Do this immediately while details are fresh. Photograph any injuries.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 2, “name”: “Step 2”, “text”: “Seek medical attention if injured. Go to an emergency room or urgent care and request documentation of all injuries. Medical records are critical evidence in misconduct complaints and any future legal action.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 3, “name”: “Step 3”, “text”: “Gather witnesses and evidence. Get contact information from anyone who witnessed the incident. Check for surveillance cameras in the area — businesses, ATMs, and traffic cameras may have footage. Request preservation of any footage immediately before it is overwritten.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 4, “name”: “Step 4”, “text”: “File a complaint with Internal Affairs. Contact the police department’s Internal Affairs (IA) or Professional Standards division. You can do this in person, by mail, or online depending on the department. Request a copy of your complaint and the assigned case number.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 5, “name”: “Step 5”, “text”: “File with the Civilian Review Board if available. Many cities have independent Civilian Complaint Review Boards (CCRBs) that investigate complaints outside the police department. These are often more transparent. Search [your city] civilian review board to find yours.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 6, “name”: “Step 6”, “text”: “File a federal civil rights complaint with the DOJ. If the misconduct involved a civil rights violation — racial discrimination , excessive force, unlawful search — file at justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint or call 1-855-856-1247. The DOJ Civil Rights Division investigates patterns of police misconduct.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 7, “name”: “Step 7”, “text”: “Contact the FBI for serious violations. For criminal conduct by police officers — including assault, sexual abuse, or civil rights crimes — report to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. The FBI investigates federal criminal civil rights violations under 18 U.S.C. § 242.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 8, “name”: “Step 8”, “text”: “Consult a civil rights attorney. For serious incidents involving injury, false arrest, or significant rights violations, consult a civil rights attorney. Many take cases on contingency. The ACLU at aclu.org can refer you to attorneys and may take cases of broader public interest.” } ], “description”: “Report police misconduct to your local Internal Affairs division, your city Civilian Review Board, and the DOJ Civil Rights Division at justice.gov/crt or 1-855-856-1247. For federal officer crimes, contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.” }, { “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I report police misconduct anonymously?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes for tips — but anonymous complaints are harder to investigate and rarely result in formal disciplinary action. Named complaints carry more weight. If you fear retaliation, contact a civil rights attorney or the ACLU before filing, as they can advise on protections available to you.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What happens after I report police misconduct?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Internal Affairs will open an investigation, interview witnesses, and review any available footage. Outcomes include: sustained (complaint upheld, officer disciplined), not sustained (insufficient evidence), exonerated (officer acted within policy), or unfounded (incident did not occur as described). Federal complaints may result in DOJ investigations of entire departments.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I sue police for misconduct?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 you can sue police officers and departments for civil rights violations. However, officers may claim qualified immunity, which can limit your case. Consult a civil rights attorney to evaluate your specific situation — many work on contingency for strong cases.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Is it legal to film police officers?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes. In all 50 states, you have the right to record police officers performing their duties in public spaces. Officers cannot legally order you to stop recording or seize your phone without a warrant. If an officer attempts this, state clearly “I have the right to record in public” and do not physically resist.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What if I was wrongfully arrested?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “File a misconduct complaint with Internal Affairs and the DOJ Civil Rights Division. Also consult a criminal defense attorney immediately if charges are still pending. A civil rights attorney can help you pursue a false arrest claim — remedies may include dismissal of charges, expungement, and financial compensation.” } } ] } ] }