Filing a Civil Rights Complaint

Individuals or groups who are aggrieved by the funded agency—that is, if they claim to have been denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, subjected to discrimination under, or denied employment in connection with any program or activity, on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion or age—can file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). OCR is required by law to investigate complaints of discrimination filed against recipients of financial assistance from OJP, its component organizations, or the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). OCR's goal, both in conducting compliance reviews and in processing complaints, is to reach voluntary compliance with the recipient agency so that funding may commence or continue. However, when an agency is recalcitrant or refuses to comply, OJP is obligated to make a determination of "noncompliance" that may result in suspension or termination of OJP or COPS funding.

To file a civil rights complaint, you must submit a Complaint Verification Form (CVF). An investigation cannot be initiated unless you provide us with the dates, times, and places of specific actions taken against you or others, the identities of witnesses, and the identities of those believed to be violating civil rights. Your completed CVF will provide us with this information.

We also ask that you sign an Identity Release Statement, which allows us to provide your name to the agency you believe is discriminating, so that we may obtain pertinent evidence. You may request that your identity be kept confidential, but this may make it more difficult for OCR to obtain evidence during an investigation. After receiving a CVF, OCR will determine whether it has merit and whether OCR has jurisdiction to investigate. If so, the agency in question will be contacted by OCR to begin the investigation.

Please send completed forms to:

Office of Justice Programs
Office for Civil Rights
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531

If you believe you have been discriminated against, you should file a complaint as soon as possible.  In most circumstances you only have 1 year after the alleged incident of discrimination to file your complaint.