REFORM QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND MISCONDUCT ACCOUNTABILITY
Justice requires accountability — and accountability requires consequences. But under the current qualified immunity system, even egregious misconduct by public officials often goes unpunished. When the law shields wrongdoing, trust in law enforcement and government erodes.
THE PROBLEM
Qualified immunity was intended to protect honest officers making reasonable decisions. Instead, it has become a blanket shield against accountability — even when someone’s rights are clearly violated. Victims are told that what happened to them was wrong, but there’s no legal pathway to justice because “no prior identical case” exists.
This creates a legal loophole where abuse can repeat without consequence, and communities receive a clear message: the system protects itself before it protects the people.
OUR PLAN FOR TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY
We will replace qualified immunity with a fair, responsibility-based model that protects good officers but does not excuse abuse:
Misconduct Insurance System — Like doctors and contractors, officers would carry liability coverage. Repeated misconduct raises premiums — or disqualifies them from service entirely.
National Decertification Registry — Any officer found responsible for serious misconduct is tracked and barred from quietly being rehired in another jurisdiction.
Independent Civilian Oversight Panels — With subpoena power, real investigative authority, and the ability to recommend prosecution or termination.
Bodycam & Evidence Transparency Rules — Video evidence must be released within defined timelines, not withheld for months or years.
Civil-Rights Right of Action — Individuals regain the ability to sue directly for rights violations without needing a previous identical case as a prerequisite.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Good officers deserve credibility. Communities deserve justice. Ending automatic legal shields is not anti-police — it is pro-trust, pro-community, and pro-justice. Accountability strengthens law enforcement’s legitimacy and protects public servants who do their jobs honorably.
“If a mechanic or a doctor messes up, there’s accountability. Why should public power carry less responsibility than private work?”