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rights

What Is Qualified Immunity?

Written by the Common Good Policy Team
In plain English

A legal doctrine that shields government officials, including police officers, from civil lawsuits unless they violated a 'clearly established' statutory or constitutional right. In practice, courts have interpreted this so narrowly that officers are almost never held personally liable.

The Full Explanation

Related Policy Positions

See how the Common Good platform addresses the issues connected to this term.

Police Reform

US cops train 20 weeks — less than hairdressers. Germany: 2.5 years. Japan kills 170× fewer civilians. We transform training, demilitarize, and end qualified immunity.

Platform position Policy guide

Criminal Justice

Every peer democracy has lower crime AND lower incarceration. This is not about being soft on crime. It is about being smart about crime.

Platform position Policy guide

Related Terms

government

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence government decisions, typically by paid professionals representing corporations or interest groups. While lobbying is protected by the First Amendment, the scale of corporate lobbying — $4.1 billion per year — gives wealthy interests vastly more access than ordinary citizens.

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