# 42 U.S.C. § 1983: Civil action for deprivation of rights

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1983

## Section

- **Citation:** 42 U.S.C. § 1983
- **Heading:** Civil action for deprivation of rights
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 9, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE > CHAPTER 21—CIVIL RIGHTS > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERALLY

## Text

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable. For the purposes of this section, any Act of Congress applicable exclusively to the District of Columbia shall be considered to be a statute of the District of Columbia.

(R.S. § 1979; Pub. L. 96–170, § 1 , Dec. 29, 1979 , 93 Stat. 1284 ; Pub. L. 104–317, title III, § 309(c) , Oct. 19, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3853 .)

## Nearby sections

- [42 U.S.C. § 1981 Equal rights under the law](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1981.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1981a Damages in cases of intentional discrimination in employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1981a.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1982 Property rights of citizens](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1982.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1983 Civil action for deprivation of rights](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1983.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1984 Omitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1984.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1985 Conspiracy to interfere with civil rights](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1985.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1986 Action for neglect to prevent](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1986.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1987 Prosecution of violation of certain laws](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1987.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1988 Proceedings in vindication of civil rights](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1988.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1989 United States magistrate judges; appointment of persons to execute warrants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1989.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1990 Marshal to obey precepts; refusing to receive or execute process](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1990.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1991 Fees; persons appointed to execute process](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1991.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1992 Speedy trial](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1992.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1993 Repealed. Pub. L. 85–315 , pt. III, § 122, Sept. 9, 1957 , 71 Stat. 637](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1993.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1983. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.