What is qualified immunity designed to protect?

Qualified immunity is primarily designed to protect public officials—including law enforcement officers—when they are performing their official duties. It shields these individuals from personal liability for civil damages as long as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. This legal doctrine serves to ensure that public officials can carry out their responsibilities without the constant threat of litigation over every decision made in the course of their work.

The reasoning behind this protection is to maintain a balance between holding officials accountable for misconduct and allowing them to perform their tasks without fear of excessive legal repercussions. It is specifically focused on public officials, which distinguishes it from protections that might apply to private citizens or agencies as whole entities.