Which federal statute addresses deprivation of rights under color of law?

• A. 42 U.S.C. § 1983
• B. Texas Commission on Human Rights
• C. 18 U.S.C. § 242
• D. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

Answer: (C)

This question tests recognizing the federal criminal statute that punishes someone who deprives another person of rights while acting under official authority. The statute you want is the one that makes it a crime to willfully deprive a person of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, while acting under color of law. That is 18 U.S.C. § 242. It targets abuses by public officials—police, jailers, or others using their official power to infringe rights such as due process, equal protection, or freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

In contrast, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is a civil remedy. It allows someone to sue a state actor who deprives them of constitutional rights, but it does not itself criminalize the deprivation. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination, not general rights deprivation. The Texas Commission on Human Rights is a state entity and not a federal statute. So the best choice is the criminal statute that directly addresses deprivation of rights under color of law.