CAIR-Chicago Meets with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Civil Rights

CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Coordinator Christina Abraham met with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights representatives to discuss what the Office for Civil Rights (OJP/OCR) can do for victims of discrimination by agencies that receive federal financial assistance. The OJP/OCR enforces civil rights laws such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, among other laws. The OJP/OCR enforces these laws among organizations and institutions that receive financial assistance in the form of grants, awards or contracts from the OJP and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) such as state police agencies, local police departments, courts, prisons, juvenile justice agencies, other law enforcement agencies, universities and colleges, and state and local planning agencies. The OJP/OCR investigates all complaints that deal with organizations and institutions that receive funding from the OJP or COPS. Complaints should be made by writing a letter to the OJP/OCR at:

Office for Civil Rights Office of Justice Programs U.S. Department of Justice 810 Seventh Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20531 (202) 307-0690 TTY number 202-307-2027

Upon receiving the complaint, OCR will determine the merit of the claims and whether OCR has jurisdiction to investigate. If so, the OCR will open an investigation, should they find the organization or institution at fault, OCR will seek compliance for a change in policy and in some situations seek individual relief for the complainant. Should the agency fail to cooperate, OJP or COPS may suspend or terminate the non-compliant agency’s funds.

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