The Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination against American Indians based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, and age.
Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the principal research and funding arm of the Justice Department, through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) ensures that recipients of federal funding subject to OJP's jurisdiction comply with the applicable federal civil rights laws that are linked to federal assistance. For more information on OCR and the laws that OCR enforces please click here. The OCR has also developed answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to federal assistance, Indian Country, and civil rights protections. For these frequently asked questions, please click here.
The Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing federal statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion. These federal laws prohibit discrimination in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations, voting, and in certain federally-funded and conducted programs, among other areas. In addition, the division prosecutes actions under several criminal civil rights statutes that are designed to preserve personal liberties and safety. The division can also seek relief for persons confined in public institutions where existing conditions deprive residents of their constitutional rights. Tribal governments and state and local governments may also have laws or procedures protecting civil rights. The following areas of the Civil Rights Division's enforcement program may be of particular interest to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- Criminal,
- Education,
- Employment,
- Federally Assisted Programs,
- Housing,
- Individuals with Disabilities,
- Institutionalized Persons,
- Lending,
- Police Misconduct,
- Public Accommodations, and
- Voting.
For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please click here.
Provided in this section is information more specific to Indian country. For example, the Office of Justice Programs' Office of Civil Rights has developed a frequently asked questions section to share information with the public on access to federal resources by American Indians and Alaska Natives, as well as, Indian tribes, if appropriate. Another section is information on how to file a complaint and obtain additional information. Please read further to gain a better understanding of the work conducted by the Civil Right Division and offices in Indian country matters.
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