What legal action can be taken when rights secured by federal law are deprived according to Title 18?

A Section 1983 lawsuit specifically addresses violations of rights secured by federal law when a person acts under the authority of state law. This civil action is a crucial mechanism for individuals to seek redress when they believe their constitutional rights have been infringed upon, particularly by state or local officials.

This legal recourse is grounded in the Civil Rights Act of 1871, which allows individuals to file a lawsuit against those who violate their civil rights. In the context of the Georgia Department of Corrections or any law enforcement agency, this law is particularly relevant when dealing with issues of excessive force, unlawful detention, or other infringements on civil liberties by state actors.

The other options do not specifically address the same legal framework or context related to federal law violations. A tort action generally pertains to civil wrongs that cause harm to a person or property, which may not always involve constitutional issues. A criminal complaint is about prosecuting individuals for violations of criminal law rather than securing rights under federal law. A civil rights violation claim could be a broader term and might not directly reference the enforcement mechanism provided by Section 1983. Therefore, the specificity of a Section 1983 lawsuit makes it the appropriate legal action in this context.