United States, Dept of Justice ,If You Have a Complaint...........

OFF THE WIRE
If You Have a Complaint


To File a Complaint about:
•An institution -- complaints about institutions such as jails, prisons, juvenile facilities, developmental disability/mental retardation facilities, mental health facilities or nursing homes.
•A law enforcement agency -- complaints about law enforcement agencies, such as police or sheriff's departments.
•Access Act violations -- interference with access to reproductive health clinics or places of religious worship.
Complaints about Institutions
What you should know before filing a complaint about an Institution:

1.The Special Litigation Section can only investigate institutions run by, or on behalf of, state and local governments. This means that the Section cannot investigate federal institutions (such as federal prisons, INS detention centers, or Veterans Administration Hospitals) or institutions that are strictly private facilities (such as private nursing homes). Complaints regarding federal institutions may be directed elsewhere. There are often state or local government agencies that have jurisdiction to investigate complaints regarding private facilities.

2.The Section cannot represent individuals in court or in any other proceeding (including parole board hearing, lawsuits, or criminal trials).

3.The Section's work is directed at obtaining broad reform of conditions in institutions. We do not have authority to remedy problems for particular individuals or seek money on behalf of individuals.

4.The Special Litigation Section does not bring criminal cases against those who violate the civil rights of residents. Criminal complaints can be made to the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.

5.The Section is authorized to take action only if there is a pattern or practice of illegal conduct. While we do collect information about specific incidents in order to determine whether there may be a pattern or practice that warrants investigation, we do not have authority to investigate or remedy individual complaints about a particular incident.
Even if your complaint falls outside the authority of the Special Litigation Section, there may be other agencies that could help you. A partial list of other federal agencies that respond to similar complaints is listed below.

How to File a Complaint:
The most effective means of filing a complaint is to write a letter to the Section explaining the situation about which you are complaining, with as much detail as possible. If you are aware of similar incidents involving others, please include that information as well. Please include information on how to contact you if we need further information (such as an address and telephone number). Also, do not include original documents as we cannot guarantee their safe return. Address all complaints to:

Special Litigation Section

U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section
Washington, D.C. 20530

The Section can also be reached by telephone (202-514-6255 or toll-free at 877-218-5228) or fax (202-514-0212 or 202-514-6273).
Answers to other frequently asked questions about the complaint process can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Other Agencies: Jails, Prisons and Immigration Facilities:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- complaints about conditions in ICE detention facilities.
U.S. Bureau of Prisons -- complaints about conditions in federal prisons.
U.S. Marshals Service -- complaints about conditions of confinement for federal inmates awaiting trial.

Health Care Facilities:
Department of Veterans Affairs -- complaints regarding treatment in a Veteran's Administration Hospital.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services -- complaints about health care in facilities receiving federal Medicaid or Medicare funding.
National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems -- complaints regarding treatment of individuals with mental disabilities, mental retardation or developmental disorders. (Protection and Advocacy systems are created by federal statutes to advocate on behalf of individuals with mental disabilities, mental retardation or developmental disorders.)



Other:
Civil Rights Division's Employment Litigation Section -- complaints about discriminatory employment practices by state or local facilities.
Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page -- individual complaints about discrimination based on disability.
Federal Bureau of Investigation -- complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil rights.
Civil Rights Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil rights.

Complaints about Law Enforcement Agencies

What you should know before filing a complaint about a Law Enforcement Agency:

1.The Section has authority to investigate only state and local law enforcement agencies. This means that the Section cannot investigate federal law enforcement agencies (such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations or Drug Enforcement Administration). Complaints regarding federal law enforcement agencies may be directed elsewhere.

2.The Special Litigation Section does not bring criminal cases against those who violate the civil rights of citizens. Criminal complaints can be made to the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.

3.The Section is authorized to take action only if there is a pattern or practice of illegal conduct. While we do collect information about specific incidents in order to determine whether there may be a pattern or practice that warrants investigation, we do not have authority to investigate or remedy individual complaints about a particular incident.
Even if your complaint falls outside the authority of the Special Litigation Section, there may be other agencies that could help you. A partial list of other federal agencies that respond to similar complaints is listed below.

How to File a Complaint:
The most effective means of filing a complaint is to write a letter to the Section explaining the situation about which you are complaining, with as much detail as possible. If you are aware of similar incidents involving others, please include that information as well. Please include information on how to contact you if we need further information (such as an address and telephone number). Also, do not include original documents as we cannot guarantee their safe return. Address all complaints to:

Special Litigation Section
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section
Washington, D.C. 20530

The Section can also be reached by telephone (202-514-6255 or toll-free at 877-218-5228) or fax (202-514-0212 or 202-514-6273).
Answers to other frequently asked questions about the complaint process can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Other Agencies:

Federal Law Enforcement Agencies:
Civil Rights Division's Coordination and Review Section -- complaints about federal law enforcement officers (FBI, DEA, Customs Service, Border Patrol, etc.) can be made to the Coordination and Review Section and will be forwarded to the appropriate federal agency for review.
Federal Bureau of Investigation -- complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil rights.
Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil rights.

Individual Complaints:
Civil Rights Division's Coordination and Review Section -- individual complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by State and local law enforcement agencies that receive financial assistance from the Department of Justice.
Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page -- individual complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of disability.
Federal Bureau of Investigation -- complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil rights.

Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal violations of individuals' federal civil rights.
Other:
Civil Rights Division's Employment Litigation Section -- complaints about discriminatory employment practices by state or local law enforcement agencies.

Access Act Complaints

What you should know before filing a complaint about access to a reproductive health clinic or places of religious worship:

1.The Special Litigation Section enforces the civil, not the criminal, provisions of the Access Act. This means that the Section is authorized to bring suits seeking court orders to prohibit specific acts and to seek fines and statutory damages, but does not criminally prosecute those who violate the criminal provisions of the statute. Criminal complaints can be made elsewhere.
2.The Section is not authorized to represent individuals, although Access Act cases brought by the Section may seek statutory damages that will be given to the obstructed clinic or place of worship.

How to File a Complaint:
The most effective means of filing a complaint is to write a letter to the Section explaining the situation about which you are complaining, with as much detail as possible. Please include information on how to contact you if we need further information (such as an address and telephone number). Also, do not include original documents as we cannot guarantee their safe return. Address all complaints to:

Special Litigation Section

U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section
Washington, D.C. 20530

The Section can also be reached by telephone (202-514-6255 or toll-free at 877-218-5228) or fax (202-514-0212 or 202-514-6273).
Answers to other frequently asked questions about the complaint process can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Other Agencies:
Federal Bureau of Investigation -- complaints regarding criminal violations of the Access Act.
Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section -- complaints regarding criminal violations of the Access Act.