Have you been wrongfully arrested in Chicago? Your life can be turned upside down in an instant when you’re subjected to a false arrest.

Don’t let injustice prevail – Jordan Marsh is a civil rights lawyer who is here to help you fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future after a false arrest in Chicago.

What Is False Arrest?

False arrest or wrongful arrest occurs when a person is unlawfully detained or held in custody by law enforcement without proper legal justification. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, including false or wrongful arrests.

 

Your Fourth Amendment rights are among the most fundamental rights you have. They protect your physical safety and your liberty. When law enforcement violates these rights, it’s a serious infringement on your personal freedom that can leave lasting emotional and financial consequences. 

A wrongful arrest creates a federal cause of action under the federal Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1983. False arrest and imprisonment also give rise to a cause of action under Illinois law. 

Examples Of False Arrest In Action 

Unlawful arrests can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Here are just a few scenarios that innocent individuals have found themselves in:

• Unlawful Detention: If you’re held against your will without reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior,  you have been unlawfully detained. If your detention lasts too long, it becomes a false arrest.  This includes being arrested as a form of revenge or to suppress your rights and being targeted due to racial profiling. 
• Lack of Probable Cause: Law enforcement officers must have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed and that the person being arrested is connected to that crime. Without probable cause, an arrest is unlawful and unconstitutional.
• Planted evidence or fabricated statements: Police misconduct is more common than you might think. Police officers can’t justify an arrest with falsified evidence or statements—this constitutes an unlawful arrest and may give rise to additional causes of action, like violation of your due process rights..
• Absence of Warrant: In most cases, arrests require a valid arrest warrant issued by a judge. However, there are situations where arrests can be made without a warrant if there’s probable cause to believe the suspect has committed a crime or poses an immediate threat to public safety.

By The Numbers: False Arrest Statistics

Wrongful arrests are more common than you might think. Law enforcement officers made more than 10 million arrests in 2019 alone. Only about 5% of these arrests were for  violent crimes.Far too often, false arrests can lead to wrongful convictions—experts believe that 4-6% of those incarcerated within U.S. prisons are innocent of the crimes for which they are imprisoned. 

False Arrest Violates Your Fourth Amendment Rights

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures, which include arrests without probable cause. If you’ve been subjected to a wrongful arrest, your constitutional rights have been violated, and you may be able to file a lawsuit for police misconduct. 

Learn more about false arrest and your rights: 

• Should I Resist a Wrongful Arrest?
• 4 Famous Wrongful Conviction Cases From Chicago
• When Can Police Detain You?
• What is Probable Cause? 

Get Help: Best Chicago False Arrest Attorney

When your freedom has been unlawfully restricted, choosing the right legal representation is crucial. By choosing Jordan, you’re not just hiring a lawyer – you’re enlisting a passionate advocate who is committed to taking legal action on your behalf.

If you or a loved one has been victimized by a false arrest in Chicago, don’t wait another moment. Reach out to Jordan Marsh for a free consultation. Together, we’ll fight to reclaim your reputation, your rights, and your future. Your road to justice starts here—see if you have a false arrest claim today. 

*The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.  Nothing in this website creates an attorney-client relationship between you and our office, and contacting us through this website does not create an attorney–client relationship or privilege.