What is a civil rights violation?

• A. An officer commits medical malpractice.
• B. An officer unlawfully interferes with the fundamental rights of another person.
• C. When an officer commits theft.
• D. When an officer violates departmental policy only.

Answer: (C)

Civil rights violations occur when a government actor interferes with someone’s protected fundamental rights. In corrections, that means actions by an officer that unlawfully deprive a person of rights like due process, equal protection, or freedom from unlawful search, seizure, or discrimination. The best description here is about unlawfully interfering with the fundamental rights of another person, because it directly targets the protection and exercise of rights guaranteed by law.

Medical malpractice describes negligent medical care, which is a professional tort, not a rights violation in itself. Theft is a crime against property, not a deprivation of protected civil rights. Violating departmental policy is an internal discipline issue; it can be misconduct, but it isn’t by itself a civil rights violation unless it also results in depriving someone of protected rights.