What should I do if I have a bad experience with police in my country?

This depends entirely on where you live, what happened, and what you're actually trying to accomplish. Are you seeking justice, safety, documentation, or change? Those require different actions. In many places, filing a formal complaint is possible but often ineffective—the system designed to hold police accountable is frequently controlled by police themselves. In others, informal community responses work better. Some countries have ombudsman offices, independent review boards, or legal aid organizations. Some have nothing official at all. Before you act, understand the real landscape: What has worked for others who faced similar situations? Are there community organizations tracking these incidents? Do you have access to a lawyer? What outcome would actually change things for you? Sor Juana understood that knowledge is power—and knowing how justice actually works in your specific place matters more than following a universal script. Document everything if you can. Find people who've navigated this before. Connect with organizations doing this work already rather than starting alone. And be honest about what the system can and cannot do. Sometimes accountability means formal channels. Sometimes it means community witness, public record, mutual aid, or organizing for systemic change. What matters is that you're not isolated in this.