File a Complaint About a Law Enforcement Officer or Judge
You can file complaints about misconduct by law enforcement officers and by judges.
Complaints About Police Officers
If you have experienced police misconduct:
- Contact the law enforcement agency involved.
- Submit your complaint in writing to the chief of police or the head of the law enforcement agency involved.
- Send a copy of your complaint to the Internal Affairs Division of the law enforcement agency. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself.
If the problem remains unresolved, learn how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division.
Finally, as with any potential legal dispute, you may want to contact a licensed attorney.
Complaints Against Judges
Federal Judges
Learn how to file a complaint about a federal judge. You can report alleged misconduct or disability that interferes with their ability to perform their duties.
State and Local Judges
The rules for filing complaints about state and local judges vary by state.
To complain about a state judge, contact your state's commission on judicial conduct. It may be listed under state agencies on your state government web site.
File a Complaint Against a Federal or State Government Agency
Learn how to file a complaint against a state or federal government agency.
Federal Government Agencies
To file a complaint against a federal agency:
- First, contact the agency directly. View an A-Z index of federal agencies.
- If you are unable to resolve an issue with a federal government agency, contact the office of the Inspector General (IG) of that agency.
State Government Agencies
To file a complaint against a state, local or tribal government agency, contact the agency directly. View state or territorial government websites.
Additional Assistance
You can also contact your congressional representative's constituent services office in your district:
File a Complaint with the U.S. Postal Service
Do you have a complaint, compliment, or suggestion for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)? Maybe you’re looking for more information about USPS’s services. There are several ways to let them know:
Use the USPS website’s Email Us form. Select an inquiry type that most closely relates to the complaint or question that you have. On the website, you can also file a claim or request a refund for shipping.
Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or TTY: 1-800-877-8339.
Speak to the station manager (postmaster) at a local post office.
Write to the U.S. Postal Service’s Consumer Advocate office at:
United States Postal Service
Office of the Consumer Advocate
475 L’ Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C. 20260-2200
Theft, Fraud, or Waste by the USPS or a USPS Employee
File a complaint with the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by:
Mail Fraud or Theft by a Person or Company
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the federal law enforcement agency that protects the mail system. Contact them to report:
Comment or Complain About a Policy Change
To comment or complain about a major policy change, such as postage rates, contact the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). You can do so by using their online contact form.
Suing the Federal Government
To bring legal action against a federal agency, you must begin by contacting the agency directly. The agency will provide you with information and forms, and attempt to settle the problem in-house.
If you decide to move forward with a lawsuit (tort claim), you should obtain a Standard Form 95 (SF-95) - Claim for Damage, Injury, or Death.
While you do not have to use a SF-95 form to file a claim, it is a convenient format for supplying the information necessary to process a claim. For more information about this process, contact the Tort Branch of the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Civil Division.
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Last Updated:
July 24, 2020
