Demand Accountability-End Qualified Immunity

My name is Darlene. I have been personally affected by a legal doctrine called Qualified Immunity. In 2017, my 22 year old son was brutally beaten by law enforcement and subsequently died. You can watch my video in the link : My sons story  To honor my son and bring an end to Qualified Immunity in NYS I have joined @ENDQINY , a group of volunteer/self funded, independent activists


Qualified Immunity is a judicial doctrine that shields law enforcement (typically police and corrections officers) and other public officials 
from being held accountable EVEN when they violate a person's civil rights. This effectively lets them operate above the law . 


Some examples of cases involving qualified immunity are criticized for their ability to let police operate above the law:
In Jessop v the City of Fresno, police officers stole $225,000 in cash while executing a search warrant. The officers were granted qualified
immunity because “there was no clearly established law” that specified the officers had broken the law by stealing  “property seized
pursuant to a warrant.”

In Baxter v Bracey, officers released a police dog on a person they suspected of burglary who was sitting on the ground already
surrendering with his hands in the air. A prior case established that the 4th Amendment prohibited unleashing a dog to attack a suspect
who had surrendered by lying on the ground. Because of the difference between sitting and lying down, the officers were granted qualified immunity.

In one of the most egregious cases in Texas, Police officers were granted qualified immunity after they tased  Gabriel Eduardo Olivas, a suicidal man who poured gasoline on himself. Before using their taser one of the officers warned that Mr Olivas would likely be set on fire , Officers fired anyway and Mr Olivas burst into flames and died several days later from his injuries. 

Qualified immunity is essentially a get out of jail free card for police. It undermines accountability for law enforcement at a structural level. Qualified immunity causes distrust of law enforcement in the very communities they are meant to protect.

All donations will be used to help fund our efforts , campaign supplies and activities in order to push legislators to pass Senate bill S1991
and Assembly bill A4331 which will truly  End Qualified Immunity.  


Now is our chance to bring accountability to law enforcement in the state of NY  by advocating for changes to this "legal doctrine" that
disproportionately affects  black and brown communities— with your help we will Win!!! 

 On behalf of the team, I greatly appreciate your support.