The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice was established in 1957 following enactment of the first civil rights statutes since Reconstruction. The Division is the primary institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap, religion, and national origin. Since its establishment, the Division has grown dramatically both in size and responsibility.

The Division enforces the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968; the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended in 1970, 1975 and 1982; the Equal Credit Opportunity Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act and additional civil rights provisions contained in other laws and regulations. These laws prohibit discrimination in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities, voting, and certain federally funded and conducted programs. In addition, the Division prosecutes actions under several criminal civil rights statutes which were designed to preserve personal liberties. The Division also enforces the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980 which authorizes the Attorney General to seek relief for persons confined to public institutions where conditions exist that deprive residents of their constitutional rights.

The Division is responsible for coordinating the civil rights enforcement efforts of federal agencies whose programs are covered by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and assists federal agencies in identifying and removing discriminatory provisions in their policies and programs.