Civil lawsuits against state agents are one alternative to the exclusionary rule.A problem with relying on section 1983 lawsuits to deter police misconduct is:

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Police and other agents of the state are able to claim qualified immunity, which means that they cannot be held liable for a reasonable mistake of law or procedure as long as their actions did not violate clearly established constitutional rights. This makes it difficult for civil lawsuits to succeed as a deterrent to police misconduct, as officers can often claim that they were acting in good faith and within the bounds of their duties. Civil rights lawsuits can be filed by anyone alleging a violation of their constitutional rights, regardless of their membership in a protected class. Absolute immunity and transactional immunity are not typically available to state agents in civil lawsuits.

Civil Lawsuits Against State Agents Are One Alternative to the Exclusionary