Which statute provides a federal civil action against a police officer who violated rights under color of law?

• A. Section 1983
• B. Section 241
• C. Section 242
• D. None

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the civil remedy for rights violations by state actors. A federal civil action against a police officer who violated rights under color of law is provided by Section 1983. This statute creates a civil cause of action against anyone acting under color of state law who deprives a person of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. Police officers, when acting under color of law, can be sued individually (and sometimes a department or municipality can face liability under its own rules or federal law). The other options are criminal statutes that address conspiracies or willful deprivation of rights, not civil remedies, so they do not authorize a civil suit. Therefore, Section 1983 is the correct source of the civil action.