Civil Rights Division (DOJ)

The Civil Rights Division is the Department of Justice office that enforces federal laws against discrimination. Its work covers areas such as voting, policing, housing, education, employment, disability access, and hate crimes. It can investigate, negotiate settlements, and file lawsuits on behalf of the United States.

People usually come to this topic to understand which kinds of discrimination the division handles, how it differs from other federal civil rights offices, how a complaint reaches it, and how it works with state and local governments, private lawyers, and courts when rights are at stake.