COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

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The Community Relations Service (CRS) was established by Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It was subsequently modified pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 903 under Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1966, which placed CRS in the Department of Justice.

The mission of CRS is to provide violence prevention and conflict resolution services for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, or national origin. CRS is the only federal service mandated to help state and local government agencies, public and private organizations, and community groups resolve and prevent community racial conflicts through the use of mediation, conciliation, and other conflict resolution approaches.

The major functions of the CRS are to:

• Provide assistance through conflict prevention and resolution services using such techniques as conciliation, mediation, and technical assistance to help communities in addressing conflicts arising out of actions, policies, and practices perceived to be discriminatory on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
• Respond to racial conflicts by working with public agency officials and community leaders to select strategic solutions, and build the capacity of the community within the scope of CRS legislated and delegated authority.

Community Relations Services Field Offices

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