Maryland Police Brutality and Civil Rights Lawyer
Maryland has experienced an epidemic of police violence, especially involving the Baltimore Police. If you or a loved one has experienced police brutality or misconduct in Maryland, Police Brutality Center may be able to connect you with a civil rights lawyer to help you pursue justice.
Attorneys that work with Police Brutality Center may be able to assist you.
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Content Last Updated: March 6, 2026
Have You or a Loved One Been a Victim of Police Brutality?
Unfortunately, police brutality is not an uncommon occurrence in Maryland. In 2025, police killed 15 people in the state, including three in Baltimore.
According to the Police Scorecard for Maryland, a project from criminal justice reform group Campaign Zero, the state had more unarmed people killed per arrest than 73% of states and more racial disparities in deadly force than 53% of states. Based on population, Black people were 4 times as likely to be killed by police as white people in Maryland from 2013 to 2023.
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.
Why Work With a Maryland Police Brutality Lawyer?
Between 2016 and 2022, there were nearly 6,000 civilian complaints of police misconduct in Maryland, but only 15% were decided in favor of civilians. For this reason, it’s crucial to work with an experienced Maryland police brutality lawyer when filing a complaint or a civil lawsuit after experiencing police misconduct in Maryland. Working with an attorney who has local knowledge of the state’s laws and procedures surrounding police brutality can significantly increase the chances of your claim’s success.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Civil Rights Cases in Maryland?
When filing a lawsuit against a government agency like a police department in Maryland, a Notice of Claim must be filed within one year of the incident to preserve your right to sue under the Maryland Tort Claims Act. This deadline applies to nearly all cases of police brutality in the state, including those for excessive force and wrongful death.
The statute of limitations, which sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit, ranges from one to three years, depending on the nature of the misconduct.
How Do I File a Civil Rights Claim in Maryland?
Engaging a Police Brutality Lawyer
Before taking any legal action for police brutality or misconduct in Maryland, it’s crucial to connect with an experienced, local civil rights attorney to ensure you take the right steps and meet all necessary deadlines. An attorney can determine the proper statute of limitations for your case, investigate the incident, collect evidence, file a notice of claim, draft lawsuit paperwork, negotiate a potential settlement, and litigate your case in court.
Police Brutality Center is proud to partner with Solomon Radner of Radner Law Group to support victims of police brutality in pursuing justice. With decades of experience, our legal partners have the skills and knowledge to meet your legal needs.
Initiating the Claims Process
In most police misconduct cases in Maryland, you must file a Notice of Claim with the state or local government agency involved within one year of the misconduct. You may only file a lawsuit after this claim is denied or if you receive no response within six months.
Legal Proceedings
Once a notice of claim has been filed and you have either received a response or six months have passed, you can file a lawsuit against the police department or officers who deprived you of your rights. Your attorney will then work to gather evidence and witnesses, attempt to negotiate a settlement out of court, or represent you at a jury trial.
Notable Police Misconduct Cases in Maryland
Many recent incidents of police misconduct have made headlines, including the ones discussed below.
The Killing of Freddie Gray
Freddie Gray’s death is one of the best-known and most-publicized cases of police misconduct in Maryland. 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. Gray’s family eventually won a $6.4 million settlement with the City of Baltimore.
The Conviction of Philip Dupree
In June 2024, former Fairmount Heights Police Department Officer Philip Dupree was convicted on federal charges of excessive force for a 2019 traffic stop. A jury found that Dupree detained and pepper-sprayed a handcuffed man in the back of his police car.
The Indictment of Robert Parks
In November 2025, Baltimore Police Officer Robert A. Parks was indicted on charges of murder, assault, and misconduct. Weeks earlier, a viral video appeared to show him attempting to run someone over with his police vehicle.
Examples of Maryland Police Misconduct Lawsuit Settlements
The following are some notable settlements of lawsuits over police misconduct in Maryland:
- October 2023: Baltimore’s Board of Estimates approved two settlements totaling $575,000 for unjustified arrests by former Baltimore Police Sergeant Ethan Newberg, who pleaded guilty months earlier to misconduct.
- March 2023: The City of Baltimore agreed to pay $6 million to the family of a driver who was killed in a 2010 police chase involving Gun Trace Task Force officers.
- January 2022: The family of Malcolm Bryant settled a lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department for $8 million for its role in Bryant’s wrongful conviction. Bryant was convicted of murder in 1998 and spent 17 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. DNA evidence exonerated him in 2016.
- November 2020: The City of Baltimore approved a $10 million settlement to resolve several lawsuits over misconduct by the city’s Gun Trace Task Force, which had a history of corruption. The settlement will resolve seven cases of police misconduct and includes $8 million for two men on whom the task force planted narcotics in 2010.
Police Misconduct Laws in Maryland
Under Maryland Public Safety Code §3–101(g), 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
Misconduct includes excessive force, sexual misconduct, theft, false arrests, racial profiling, wrongful convictions or detainment, and more.
In 2021, Maryland passed the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, overhauling police oversight by repealing the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, establishing civilian oversight boards, restricting use of force, and creating new disciplinary practices for misconduct. The act also allowed for lawsuits against individual officers for misconduct.
Police Brutality Center Can Help You Seek Justice
If you have experienced police brutality firsthand or have lost a loved one due to police misconduct in Maryland, 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 civil rights lawyers with experience handling police brutality cases.