What does qualified immunity protect government officials from?

Qualified immunity serves as a legal doctrine that shields government officials from liability for civil damages as long as their actions do not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. This means that if a government official acts within the scope of their duties and the right allegedly violated is not well-established in existing law, they may not be held personally liable for those actions.

This protection is designed to allow government officials to perform their functions without the fear of frequent litigation or the threat of personal financial loss, fostering a sense of security that is deemed necessary for effective governance and decision-making in public service. The crucial element is the distinction between actions that do not violate established rights versus those that do; if an official's conduct is found to infringe upon rights that are well established, qualified immunity would not apply, and they could be held liable.

Other options might imply broader protections or misinterpretations of the scope of qualified immunity. For instance, it does not provide blanket immunity from all criminal prosecutions, nor does it protect officials from all lawsuits. The nuances in legal definitions are essential to understanding qualified immunity's specific application regarding civil damages related to established rights.