Why are bad cops so hard to bring to justice? Three questions.
Police officers patrolling the U.S. carry a legal shield intended to protect them as they perform a dangerous job in a heavily-armed country.
The “qualified immunity” doctrine is meant to allow government officials to do their job without fear of frivolous lawsuits. The doctrine, according to U.S. courts, gives immunity to “all but the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law.”
But to many critics of the justice system, the doctrine has tipped the balance of power too far. They say it invites abuse
What is qualified immunity?How does it work today?What is happening now?