Content Last Updated: February 2, 2026

Why Work With A Baltimore Police Brutality and Civil Rights Lawyer

Police brutality cases are particularly complex, especially because the doctrine of qualified immunity shields officers and departments. Working with a police brutality attorney can significantly enhance the efficiency of your case and increase your chances of success when suing a police department or officer.

Baltimore police brutality and civil rights lawyers understand Maryland’s complex legal landscape and can conduct a thorough, independent investigation, gather key evidence, advocate for your best interests, and stand by you throughout your case. An experienced attorney can also help you navigate Maryland-specific policing laws.

If you have experienced police brutality or have lost a loved one due to police misconduct, Police Brutality Center can connect you with a civil rights lawyer to help you pursue justice. With over 50 years of combined experience, our legal partners have the skills and knowledge to ensure that your legal needs are met.

Baltimore Police Brutality Statistics

The 2015 death of Freddie Gray due to police misconduct brought attention to the problem of police brutality in Baltimore. Between 2015 and 2019, 13,391 misconduct complaints were filed against over 1,800 officers in the city. Notably, 90.7 percent of the 22,884 use-of-force incidents involved Black residents. Six officers, all members of the Gun Trace Task Force, were named in more than 100 of the complaints.

More recent statistics show that in the first quarter of 2022, the Baltimore Police Department received 361 complaints, which averaged four per day. These statistics again show that Black residents comprised the largest demographic of complainants.

Police Misconduct Laws in Baltimore

According to the Maryland General Assembly, police misconduct means a practice, conduct, or pattern by a law enforcement agency or police officer involving one or more of the following situations:

Depriving someone of the rights they’re entitled to by the Constitution and state and federal laws
Violating criminal statutes
Violating a law enforcement agency’s policies or standards

When a complaint is filed, the Office of Equity and Civil Rights receives it. This body is made up of three civilian entities that handle cases of police accountability in Baltimore. The Police Accountability Board receives complaints involving the public and then refers them to the proper law enforcement agency for future investigation.

Examples of police brutality and misconduct include:

Excessive force
Sexual misconduct
Theft
False arrest
Racial profiling
Indifference to serious medical needs
Significant risk of harm to someone in custody

Individuals accused of misconduct can include federal, state, or local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, probation officers, judges, correctional officers, jailers, and police officers.

Police Misconduct Cases in Baltimore

Baltimore has a long history of tension and conflict between the police department and the city’s Black citizens. In 2015, the death of Freddie Gray in police custody sparked nationwide outcry. Two years later, the indictments and convictions of several officers from the Gun Trace Task Force revealed a deeper, more systemic level of police corruption. In response, the U.S. Department of Justice imposed a federal consent decree on the Baltimore Police in 2017, requiring them to meet specific standards and focus on initiatives such as community-oriented policing.

Freddie Gray’s death is one of the best-known and most-publicized cases of police misconduct in Baltimore, garnering headlines across the country. Gray died in April 2015 from injuries suffered while in Baltimore police custody. Even though his death was ruled a homicide, no officers were ever convicted on criminal charges. Gray’s family eventually won a $6.4 million settlement with the City of Baltimore.

After Gray’s death, the entire police force underwent significant reforms. Baltimore officers now wear body cameras, and their transport vans were reconfigured and equipped with cameras. Despite this, more than 1,800 complaints were reportedly filed against officers between 2015 and 2019. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland published a report finding that over 400 officers were the subject of at least one complaint of physical violence.

In 2022, Baltimore authorized $500,000 to settle lawsuits filed by four people alleging misconduct by members of the city’s Gun Trace Task Force. One of the lawsuits was filed by Derrick Anderson, who spent more than a year in jail for charges he said officers fabricated. Anderson’s criminal case was among over 180 eventually dropped by the State Attorney’s Office after eight Gun Trace Task Force officers were convicted of numerous crimes, including racketeering and planting evidence.

Despite the consent decree, police misconduct in Baltimore has continued through 2025. In October, a Baltimore police officer was suspended after a video surfaced on social media showing him attempting to run over an individual with his police vehicle.

Connect With an Experienced Police Brutality Lawyer

Police Brutality Center partners with nationally recognized trial attorney Solomon Radner of Radner Law Group, PLLC, to help victims of police misconduct across the United States. Attorney Radner has been honored as a Super Lawyer since 2014 and named among the Top 40 Under 40 trial attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Filing a Civil Rights Claim in Baltimore

If you plan to file a complaint regarding police misconduct in Baltimore, there are several things to keep in mind. First, your complaint will require a careful investigation. As a result, your case may take some time to produce results.

You can initiate the process by completing the online complaint form. You’ll then meet with a member of the Community Relations Commission to begin the process. The complaint will be reviewed to determine if it falls under a covered category. You must also remember to file within 180 days of incidents occurring in Baltimore.

If the complaint is approved, it is sent to the director and assigned to an investigator. The first step for the investigation is typically a fact-finding conference. However, this is not necessary for all complaints.

Instead of managing the process alone, consider hiring a police brutality lawyer in Baltimore.

Police Reform and Legislation in Baltimore

Baltimore has been a focal point in the ongoing discussion in the United States about police reform. This is due largely to the significant number of high-profile cases coming out of the area in recent years. One of the most notable policies introduced is the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, which was amended to increase transparency and accountability in police procedures.

Baltimore City Police Accountability Board

The Baltimore City Police Accountability Board is an independent department that oversees and investigates complaints filed against the Baltimore Police Department. The board is made up of 17 civilian members to ensure public involvement and scrutiny. This civilian oversight aims to repair community trust. Filing a complaint with the board is one option if you or someone you love has been the victim of police brutality or misconduct.

Police Brutality Center Can Help You Seek Justice

Police misconduct and brutality are issues that plague Baltimore. Although the problem has been discussed for decades, complaints continue to mount.

At Police Brutality Center, we encourage victims to contact us for help. We will use our resources to help you find a Baltimore police brutality lawyer and take steps to seek justice. Get legal help.