Another major obstacle in remedying police misconduct and abuses has been the blanket indemnification that police officers receive when they are sued. Joanna has done an amazing job of researching and writing a piece on this issue.

Officers are rarely ever subject to punitive damages and when they are the agency or municipality usually absorb the costs. In one recent case an Oregon state trooper was assessed $60,000 in punitive damages in and excessive force case. Not only did he escape any other penalties, he was subsequently promoted, in spite of the video and the juries ruling.