U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Special Litigation Section
If You Have a Complaint
To File a Complaint about:
-
An institution -- complaints about institutions
such as jails, prisons, juvenile facilities, developmental disability/mental
retardation facilities, mental health facilities or nursing homes.
-
A law enforcement agency -- complaints about law
enforcement agencies, such as police or sheriff's departments.
-
Access Act violations -- interference with access
to reproductive health clinics or places of religious worship.
Complaints about Institutions
What you should know before filing a complaint about an Institution:
-
The Special Litigation Section can only investigate institutions run by,
or on behalf of, state and local governments. This
means that the Section cannot investigate federal institutions (such
as federal prisons, INS detention centers, or Veterans Administration Hospitals)
or institutions that are strictly private facilities (such as private nursing
homes). Complaints regarding federal institutions may be directed
elsewhere.
There are often state or local government agencies that have jurisdiction
to investigate complaints regarding private facilities.
-
The Section cannot represent individuals in court or in any other
proceeding (including parole board hearing, lawsuits, or criminal trials).
-
The Section's work is directed at obtaining broad reform of conditions
in institutions. We do not have authority to remedy problems
for particular individuals or seek money on behalf of individuals.
-
The Special Litigation Section does not bring criminal cases against
those who violate the civil rights of residents. Criminal complaints
can be made to the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.
-
The Section is authorized to take action only if there is a pattern or
practice of illegal conduct. While we do collect information
about specific incidents in order to determine whether there may be a pattern
or practice that warrants investigation, we do not have authority to investigate
or remedy individual complaints about a particular incident.
Even if your complaint falls outside the authority of the Special Litigation
Section, there may be other agencies that could help you. A partial
list of other federal agencies that respond to similar complaints is listed
below.
How to File a Complaint:
The most effective means of filing a complaint is to write a letter
to the Section explaining the situation about which you are complaining,
with as much detail as possible. If you are aware of similar incidents
involving others, please include that information as well. Please
include information on how to contact you if we need further information
(such as an address and telephone number). Also, do not include original
documents as we cannot guarantee their safe return. Address all complaints
to:
Special Litigation Section
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section
Washington, D.C. 20530
The Section can also be reached by telephone (202-514-6255 or toll-free at 877-218-5228) or fax (202-514-0212
or 202-514-6273).
Answers to other frequently asked questions about the complaint process
can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions
page.
Other Agencies:
Jails and Prisons:
Immigration and
Naturalization Service -- complaints about conditions in INS
detention facilities.
U.S. Bureau of Prisons -- complaints
about conditions in federal prisons.
U.S. Marshals Service
-- complaints about conditions of confinement for federal inmates awaiting
trial.
Health Care Facilities:
VA's Customer Service
web page -- complaints regarding treatment in a Veteran's Administration
Hospital.
Health Care Finance Authority
-- complaints about health care in facilities receiving federal Medicaid
or Medicare funding.
National Association
of Protection and Advocacy Systems -- complaints regarding treatment
of individuals with mental disabilities, mental retardation or developmental
disorders. (Protection and Advocacy systems are created by federal
statutes to advocate on behalf of individuals with mental disabilities,
mental retardation or developmental disorders.)
Other:
Civil Rights Division's
Employment Litigation Section -- complaints about discriminatory employment
practices by state or local facilities.
Americans with Disabilities
Act Home Page -- individual complaints about discrimination based on
disability.
Federal Bureau of Investigation --
complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil
rights.
Civil Rights Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal violations
of individuals' federal civil rights.
Complaints
about Law Enforcement Agencies
What you should know before filing a complaint about a Law Enforcement
Agency:
-
The Section has authority to investigate only state and local
law enforcement agencies. This means that the Section cannot investigate
federal law enforcement agencies (such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations
or Drug Enforcement Administration). Complaints regarding federal
law enforcement agencies may be directed elsewhere.
-
The Special Litigation Section does not bring criminal cases against those
who violate the civil rights of citizens. Criminal complaints can
be made to the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.
-
The Section is authorized to take action only if there is a pattern or
practice of illegal conduct. While we do collect information
about specific incidents in order to determine whether there may be a pattern
or practice that warrants investigation, we do not have authority to investigate
or remedy individual complaints about a particular incident.
Even if your complaint falls outside the authority of the Special Litigation
Section, there may be other agencies that could help you. A partial
list of other federal agencies that respond to similar complaints is listed
below.
How to File a Complaint:
The most effective means of filing a complaint is to write a letter
to the Section explaining the situation about which you are complaining,
with as much detail as possible. If you are aware of similar incidents
involving others, please include that information as well. Please
include information on how to contact you if we need further information
(such as an address and telephone number). Also, do not include original
documents as we cannot guarantee their safe return. Address all complaints
to:
Special Litigation Section
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section
Washington, D.C. 20530
The Section can also be reached by telephone (202-514-6255 or toll-free at 877-218-5228) or fax (202-514-0212
or 202-514-6273).
Answers to other frequently asked questions about the complaint process
can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions
page.
Other Agencies:
Federal Law Enforcement Agencies:
Civil Rights Division's
Coordination and Review Section -- complaints about federal
law enforcement officers (FBI, DEA, Customs Service, Border Patrol, etc.)
can be made to the Coordination and Review Section and will be forwarded
to the appropriate federal agency for review.
Federal Bureau of Investigation --
complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil
rights.
Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal
violations of individuals' federal civil rights.
Individual Complaints:
Civil Rights Division's
Coordination and Review Section -- individual complaints alleging discrimination
on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by State
and local law enforcement agencies that receive financial assistance from
the Department of Justice.
Americans with Disabilities
Act Home Page -- individual complaints alleging discrimination
on the basis of disability.
Federal Bureau of Investigation --
complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil
rights.
Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal
violations of individuals' federal civil rights.
Other:
Civil Rights Division's
Employment Litigation Section -- complaints about discriminatory employment
practices by state or local law enforcement agencies.
Access Act Complaints
What you should know before filing a complaint about access to a
reproductive health clinic or places of religious worship:
-
The Special Litigation Section enforces the civil, not the criminal, provisions
of the Access Act. This means that the Section is authorized to bring
suits seeking court orders to prohibit specific acts and to seek fines
and statutory damages, but does not criminally prosecute those who violate
the criminal provisions of the statute. Criminal complaints can be
made elsewhere.
-
The Section is not authorized to represent individuals, although Access
Act cases brought by the Section may seek statutory damages that will be
given to the obstructed clinic or place of worship.
How to File a Complaint:
The most effective means of filing a complaint is to write a letter
to the Section explaining the situation about which you are complaining,
with as much detail as possible. Please include information on how
to contact you if we need further information (such as an address and telephone
number). Also, do not include original documents as we cannot guarantee
their safe return. Address all complaints to:
Special Litigation Section
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section
Washington, D.C. 20530
The Section can also be reached by telephone (202-514-6255 or toll-free at 877-218-5228) or fax (202-514-0212
or 202-514-6273).
Answers to other frequently asked questions about the complaint process
can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions
page.
Other Agencies:
Federal Bureau of Investigation --
complaints regarding criminal violations of the Access Act.
Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal
violations of the Access Act.
Last updated May 21, 2003