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The law behind the numbers

Every figure Police Census publishes exists because a federal statute or regulation requires or permits it to be collected. This section reproduces that legal authority directly, and lists the appellate case law — individually verified, never auto-resolved — that governs how it applies.

United States Code, 2024 edition. Code of Federal Regulations, as of August 21, 2026.

Statutes & regulations

Civil liability

42 U.S.C. § 1983Civil action for deprivation of rights42 U.S.C. § 1988Proceedings in vindication of civil rights

Crime reporting to the FBI

28 U.S.C. § 534Acquisition, preservation, and exchange of identification records and information; appointment of officials

Criminal liability

18 U.S.C. § 241Conspiracy against rights18 U.S.C. § 242Deprivation of rights under color of law

Criminal history records

28 C.F.R. § 20.1Purpose.28 C.F.R. § 20.2Authority.28 C.F.R. § 20.20Applicability.28 C.F.R. § 20.21Preparation and submission of a Criminal History Record Information Plan.28 C.F.R. § 20.22Certification of compliance.28 C.F.R. § 20.23Documentation: Approval by OJARS.28 C.F.R. § 20.24State laws on privacy and security.28 C.F.R. § 20.25Penalties.28 C.F.R. § 20.3Definitions.28 C.F.R. § 20.30Applicability.28 C.F.R. § 20.31Responsibilities.28 C.F.R. § 20.32Includable offenses.28 C.F.R. § 20.33Dissemination of criminal history record information.28 C.F.R. § 20.34Individual's right to access criminal history record information.28 C.F.R. § 20.35Criminal Justice Information Services Advisory Policy Board.28 C.F.R. § 20.36Participation in the Interstate Identification Index System.28 C.F.R. § 20.37Responsibility for accuracy, completeness, currency, and integrity.28 C.F.R. § 20.38Sanction for noncompliance.

Deaths during encounters

34 U.S.C. § 12602Data on use of excessive force34 U.S.C. § 60105State information regarding individuals who die in the custody of law enforcement

Police encounters

18 U.S.C. § 3109Breaking doors or windows for entry or exit28 C.F.R. § 35.130General prohibitions against discrimination.28 C.F.R. § 35.136Service animals.28 C.F.R. § 35.139Direct threat.28 C.F.R. § 35.152Jails, detention and correctional facilities, and community correctional facilities.28 C.F.R. § 35.160General.28 C.F.R. § 35.162Telephone emergency services.42 U.S.C. § 12132Discrimination

Military surplus (1033 programme)

10 U.S.C. § 2576aExcess personal property: sale or donation for law enforcement activities

Federal funding

28 C.F.R. § 42.203Discrimination prohibited.28 C.F.R. § 42.205Complaint investigation.34 U.S.C. § 10152Description34 U.S.C. § 10156Formula34 U.S.C. § 10228Prohibition of Federal control over State and local criminal justice agencies; prohibition of discrimination34 U.S.C. § 10381Authority to make public safety and community policing grants

Criminal intelligence systems

28 C.F.R. § 23.1Purpose.28 C.F.R. § 23.2Background.28 C.F.R. § 23.20Operating principles.28 C.F.R. § 23.3Applicability.28 C.F.R. § 23.30Funding guidelines.28 C.F.R. § 23.40Monitoring and auditing of grants for the funding of intelligence systems.

Oversight

34 U.S.C. § 12601Cause of action

Case law

A citation is published here only after a human has confirmed it resolves to the correct case — a resolver keyed on volume, reporter and page alone is not enough. See all verified cases.

Duty of care

DeShaney v. Winnebago County489 U.S. 189Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales545 U.S. 748

Interrogation

Miranda v. Arizona384 U.S. 436Garrity v. New Jersey385 U.S. 493Vega v. Tekoh597 U.S. 134

Liability

Monell v. Department of Social Services436 U.S. 658Brady v. Maryland373 U.S. 83Harlow v. Fitzgerald457 U.S. 800Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents403 U.S. 388Pearson v. Callahan555 U.S. 223City of Canton v. Harris489 U.S. 378Giglio v. United States405 U.S. 150City of Los Angeles v. Lyons461 U.S. 95Egbert v. Boule596 U.S. 482

Stops & searches

Terry v. Ohio392 U.S. 1Mapp v. Ohio367 U.S. 643Whren v. United States517 U.S. 806Illinois v. Wardlow528 U.S. 119Rodriguez v. United States575 U.S. 348Atwater v. City of Lago Vista532 U.S. 318Riley v. California134 S. Ct. 2473Carpenter v. United States585 U.S. 296Heien v. North Carolina135 S. Ct. 530Utah v. Strieff579 U.S. 232

Use of force

Graham v. Connor490 U.S. 386Scott v. Harris550 U.S. 372Tennessee v. Garner471 U.S. 1Kingsley v. Hendrickson576 U.S. 389County of Los Angeles v. Mendez581 U.S. 420Lombardo v. St. Louis594 U.S. 464Barnes v. Felix605 U.S. 73