What type of penalties refer to lawsuits against officers or their agency?

The correct answer refers to civil liability penalties, which encompass lawsuits filed against correctional officers or their employing agency. Civil liability differs from criminal liability in that it involves actions seeking compensation for damages rather than punishment through imprisonment or fines.

When a correctional officer acts outside the bounds of their training or violates an individual's rights, they may be sued in civil court. This can lead to financial judgments being placed against the officer or the department they work for, aimed at compensating the affected individual for any harm or violation experienced.

While criminal liability addresses offenses against the state that may lead to jail time or penalties, civil liability specifically pertains to individual rights and compensatory justice. Similarly, federal civil rights liability specifically targets violations of federal rights, which is a subset of civil liability but not inclusive of all potential civil suits. Administrative liability concerns internal disciplinary processes rather than lawsuits. Understanding these distinctions is critical for correctional officers as they navigate the responsibilities and legal ramifications of their conduct in the line of duty.