Civil Rights (Oficina de Derechos Civiles)

The Office for Civil Rights at the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) ensures that recipients of financial assistance from OJP, as well as the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), comply with federal laws that prohibit discrimination in employment and the delivery of services or benefits based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age and disability.  See Civil Rights Requirements for more information.

Recipients of financial assistance from OVW are also prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  For more information, see Nondiscrimination Grant Condition in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.

Employees, beneficiaries and applicants for employment or services of any of the above who believe that they have experienced unlawful discrimination may file a complaint.

The Investigative Findings page captures information for a selection of Office of Civil Rights investigations.

Filing a Civil Rights Complaint

The Office of Civil Rights investigates complaints from individuals or groups who believe that they have experienced discrimination from an agency that receives funding from the Justice Department.  These include the Office of Justice Programs and its components as well as the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office on Violence Against Women.

The Office of Civil Rights can also investigate agencies that receive Justice Department funding from state and local government agencies.

Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability.

If you believe that you have experienced discrimination, you are encouraged to file a civil rights complaint as soon as possible.  In more circumstances, you have only one year from the date of the incident to do so.  Complete the Complaint Verification Form and the Identity Release Statement and submit to:

Office for Civil Rights
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street Northwest
Washington DC 20531