Los Angeles California Civil Rights Law Blog

Most adults believe they know the difference between right and wrong. But when you are in a situation where someone has authority over you, you may not know what you are, or are not, allowed to do. This may be especially true regarding police involvement. Considering allegations of excessive force spread across social media and the news, you may not know whether you have the right to record your traffic stop or how you can protect yourself if things get out of hand.

In California, it is legal to record your interactions with on-duty law enforcement officers (LEOs), as long as doing so does not interfere with their job duties. Though you should be able to trust the police, you may choose to record your interactions. This is one way to protect yourself against possibilities of police misconduct, although new laws also continue working toward that goal.

From 2012 to 2016 in California, thousands of sexual harassment claims were filed. Over half of those employees were fired, and more than two-thirds were retaliated against. These were among the findings of a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Employment Equity. Nationally, nearly two-thirds of people who filed a complaint about sexual harassment were let go from their jobs within the year. More than two-thirds reported employer retaliation.

The study looked at over 46,000 claims that state agencies and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received during the period in question. It found that 99.8 percent of the approximately 5 million employees who face sexual harassment each year did not file formal charges, and of the formal charges that were filed, only around 1,500 were heard in court. Fewer than one-fourth of employees who filed claims with the EEOC got a payoff, and the average amount received was less than $25,000.

While many police officers may uphold a strong moral code, some can get carried away with the authority they have over civilians. More people have been coming forward with stories of police brutality, suggesting that some officers could be abusing the power of their badge for their own benefit.

Last year, two police officers in New York arrested a teenage woman for marijuana possession, only to force her into performing sexual favors. They threatened her with criminal charges, and eventually raped her. This incident sparked a discussion on how some police officers may be targeting young and vulnerable women.

In 2016, there were nearly 6,000 pedestrian deaths. This was an increase from 2015, meaning that a pedestrian died in a traffic accident roughly every 90 minutes that year. However, there are several steps that pedestrians in California can take to stay safe and that drivers can follow to keep roads safer for them.

Pedestrians should use sidewalks when they can, and when they cannot, they should walk facing traffic. They should remain alert, behave predictably and avoid getting distracted by devices. If crosswalks are available, they should be used although pedestrians should still look both ways for cars. They should always assume drivers do not see them. It's recommended that pedestrians use intersections if there are no crosswalks and an area where traffic can be clearly seen, or they should at least cross in an area that is well-lit if there is not an intersection. Pedestrians should make an effort to be visible, wearing bright colors and carrying a flashlight at night or wearing reflective clothing. They should also be aware of cars in driveways and parking lots and should avoid using drugs or alcohol.