Illinois Police Brutality Lawyer
Illinois has a long history of police misconduct and brutality, particularly in major metropolitan areas like Chicago. The Chicago Police Department has been the subject of multiple major civil rights investigations for alleged racial profiling and excessive use of force. If you or a loved one has been a victim of police violence in Illinois, our police brutality lawyers can provide legal support while you seek justice and accountability.
Attorneys that work with Police Brutality Center may be able to assist you.
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Content Last Updated: March 16, 2026
How an Illinois Police Brutality Lawyer Can Help You
If you’ve experienced police brutality or misconduct in Illinois, it’s crucial to work with an established police brutality lawyer with experience in civil rights law and police misconduct cases.
A knowledgeable Illinois police brutality lawyer can conduct an independent investigation, uncover key evidence, deal with police union representatives and city attorneys, build a strong case, negotiate for a settlement, and take your case to trial, if necessary.
Connect With Our Experienced Attorneys
Police Brutality Center is proud to partner with Alex Straus, Chair of the Civil Rights Department at Milberg PLLC, and Solomon Radner at Radner Law Group to help victims of civil rights abuses.
Filing a Civil Rights Claim for Police Brutality in Illinois
The first step in filing a police brutality lawsuit in Illinois is often to file a complaint with a police oversight agency, such as Internal Affairs or the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or COPA, in Chicago, to create an official record of the incident.
You must file your civil rights case within the appropriate statute of limitations. In Illinois, most police misconduct cases must be filed within 2 years of the incident, though some cases involving wrongful convictions or delayed discovery may have longer deadlines.
Through a successful police brutality lawsuit in Illinois, your family may be able to recover monetary compensation via a settlement or jury verdict. While there is no guaranteed compensation amount in a civil rights case, some recent police misconduct settlements in Illinois are well into the millions, such as the following:
- June 2024: The City of Chicago agreed to pay $50 million to settle wrongful conviction lawsuits filed by the “Marquette Park Four,” four men who spent a combined 73 years in prison after police allegedly coerced them into false murder confessions as teenagers in 1995.
- March 2024: Chicago approved a $45 million settlement for Nathen Jones, a 15-year-old boy who suffered catastrophic brain injuries in a car crash during a 2021 police chase. Police reportedly initiated the chase after Jones allegedly ran a stop sign, breaking CPD’s no-chase policy for minor traffic offenses and causing a high-speed crash.
- December 2023: Chicago approved an $8.75 million settlement with the family of Michael Craig, who was killed by police in 2021 after calling 911 for help when his wife threatened him with a knife.
Illinois Police Misconduct & Civil Rights Laws
Police brutality and misconduct occur when law enforcement officers engage in illegal actions in the course of their duties. Such behavior may include the use of excessive force, racial profiling, wrongful arrests and detention, police shootings, and deaths in custody. In many cases, individual police officers and entire police departments and oversight agencies can be held accountable when police brutality occurs, although the doctrine of qualified immunity often shields officers from liability.
Both Illinois state laws and federal civil rights laws protect individuals from police misconduct. Under federal and Illinois law, police officers can use force if they reasonably believe, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to make an arrest or to defend themselves or others from harm. Deadly force is justified only if the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themself or others.
History of Police Brutality in Illinois
Sparked by the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald, the U.S. Department of Justice began an investigation into police violence by the Chicago Police Department. In 2017, the investigation found reasonable cause to believe that CPD engaged in a pattern of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
The DOJ also found systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including a lack of de-escalation training and internal investigations. Additionally, the DOJ found that CPD’s practice of unreasonable force fell heaviest on predominantly Black and Latino communities.
Memorial Day Massacre – 1937
On Memorial Day in 1937, the Chicago Police Department shot and killed ten unarmed demonstrators during a steel industry unionization protest in Chicago. The police fired on the crowd, killing multiple people. Additionally, nine people were permanently disabled, and 28 suffered serious head injuries from being clubbed by police.
Jon Burge Torture – 1970s – 1990s
One of the largest historical movements against police violence occurred in Chicago between the 1970s and 1990s. Chicago police allegedly tortured over 120 people from 1972 to 1991 during the term of Commander Jon Burge. Most of the victims were Black men.
Notable Illinois Police Brutality Cases
Laquan McDonald – 2014
On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot and killed by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Police initially reported that McDonald was behaving erratically and lunging at officers with a knife, but a video of the encounter showed that McDonald was walking away when Van Dyke shot him 16 times.
The city settled with the McDonald family for $5 million in 2015, and Van Dyke spent three years in prison. This police killing sparked the federal Department of Justice civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department.
Sonya Massey – 2024
On July 6, 2024, then-Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson shot 36-year-old Sonya Massey while she was standing unarmed in the kitchen of her Springfield, Illinois. Massey called 911 that morning about a potential intruder outside her home.
Grayson shot her three times and was later sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Wrongful Convictions by former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts – 2025
In September 2025, Chicago announced a $90 million settlement to resolve 176 police misconduct lawsuits brought by people who were wrongfully convicted on charges supported by fabricated evidence presented by Sgt. Ronald Watts and members of his tactical team.
The convictions had been vacated, and Watts subsequently served time in federal prison for extorting money from suspected drug dealers.
Contact an Experienced Illinois Police Brutality Lawyer
If you or a loved one has experienced police brutality or misconduct in Illinois, or if you have lost a loved one due to police violence, Police Brutality Center may be able to connect you with a civil rights lawyer to help you pursue justice. Our mission is to prevent further harm and ensure justice for victims by connecting them with a network of experienced civil rights lawyers who can provide legal assistance.