Getting Uncle Sam to

Enforce Your

Civil Rights

United States Commission on Civil Rights

Clearinghouse Publication 59

Revised December 2007
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency

established by Congress in 1957. It is directed to:

 Investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their

right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or

national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices.

 Study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal

protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

 Appraise federal laws and policies with respect to discrimination or denial

of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age,

disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

 Serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

 Submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress.

 Issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial

of equal protection of the laws.

Members of the Commission

Gerald A. Reynolds, Chairperson

Abigail Thernstrom, Vice Chairperson

Jennifer C. Braceras

Gail Heriot

Peter N. Kirsanow

Arlan Melendez

Ashley L. Taylor, Jr.

Michael Yaki

Kenneth L. Marcus, Staff Director

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

624 Ninth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20425

(202) 376-8128 voice

(800) 877-8339 TTY

www.usccr.gov
Getting Uncle Sam to

Enforce Your

Civil Rights

iii

Letter from the Staff Director

Dear Reader,

Getting Uncle Sam to Enforce Your Civil Rights is a comprehensive resource

for the American public that explains where and how an aggrieved individual

can file a discrimination claim. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights publishes

this guide to aid the public in accessing entities responsible for civil rights enforcement. The Commission lacks enforcement powers to apply remedies in

individual cases; however, it refers many of the complaints it receives to the

appropriate federal, state, or local government agencies, or private organizations that are authorized to help.

This publication is one of many that the Commission issues as part of its

duty to serve as a national clearinghouse for information about discrimination

or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex,

age, disability, or national origin. The Commission and its State Advisory

Committees have produced and disseminated hundreds of reports, studies,

and public service announcements on national, regional, and local civil rights

matters. These include the Commission’s Civil Rights Journal, published

periodically, which contains articles on topical civil rights issues.

Copies of Commission publications, as well as a “Catalog of Publications,” are

available free to the public, by request to the Publications Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 624 Ninth Street, NW, Room 600, Washington, DC

20425. This is also the location of the Commission’s Robert S. Rankin Civil

Rights Memorial Library, which is open to the public during business hours on

weekdays. In addition, many of the Commission’s more recent publications,

including this one, can be accessed on its Web site at www.usccr.gov. The

Commission periodically updates the online version of this publication.

The Commission’s reports and studies result from the agency’s mandate to

appraise federal civil rights laws and policies, investigate complaints of voting rights violations, and study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws. Fact-finding for carrying out

these functions includes the holding of hearings, briefings, presentations,

and forums in Washington and other locations around the country, to gather

evidence and information for findings and reports. These Commission activities examine important civil rights issues of both national and local impact

and are open to the public.

To obtain a referral, individuals may call the Commission’s toll-free complaint

line, or any of the Commission’s six regional offices in Washington, DC; Atlanta; Chicago; Kansas City; Denver; and Los Angeles (see pages 3 and 101

of this publication). The Commission’s regional offices coordinate local op-

v

Acknowledgments

This publication was produced by the Office of Civil Rights Evaluation,

Robert Lerner, PhD, director. Principal research and editing were performed

by Latrice D. Foshee.
vi
vii

Contents

1. Introduction ...............................................................................................1

2. How to File a Complaint ...........................................................................4

3. When and Where to File a Complaint......................................................5

Credit...........................................................................................................5

Education ..................................................................................................11

Employment ..............................................................................................15

Housing.....................................................................................................26

Hate Crimes/Campus Anti-Semitisim........................................................26

Law Enforcement ......................................................................................29

Federally Assisted Programs ....................................................................32

Public Accommodations and Facilities......................................................41

Voting........................................................................................................43

4. Special Circumstances...........................................................................46

Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination .......................................46

Native Americans ......................................................................................47

Institutionalized Persons ...........................................................................48

Military Personnel......................................................................................49

5. More Help.................................................................................................50

Discrimination Law Guides........................................................................50

Legal Action ..............................................................................................50

6. Agency Regional, District, or Local Offices.........................................51

Bureau of Prisons .....................................................................................51

Comptroller of the Currency ......................................................................52

Department of Education ..........................................................................53

Department of Health and Human Services..............................................56

Department of Housing and Urban Development .....................................58

Department of Labor ................................................................................61

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission............................................66

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ...................................................71

Federal Reserve Banks.............................................................................73

Merit Systems Protection Board................................................................75

National Credit Union Administration ........................................................77

Office of Thrift Supervision........................................................................78

United States Attorneys’ Offices ...............................................................79

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights ..............................................................94
viii
1

1. Introduction

There are many federal laws against discrimination. They were passed to

protect people who, because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin,

age, or disability, are denied their rights.

Discrimination might occur when an individual attempts to vote; rent or buy

a home; use a public facility; obtain a job, an education, or a bank loan; or do

many other things.

Discrimination is illegal when an individual is denied an opportunity or a

service based on:

 race, which is generally understood to be membership in a racial group.

Depending on which law is involved, membership in an ethnic group

can also constitute race;

 color, which refers to a person’s actual skin shade, and may constitute

a separate discrimination factor regardless of the person’s race;

 sex, which refers to gender;

 religion, which refers to a person’s religious beliefs and practices, or

lack thereof, or a person’s membership in a religious group;

 national origin, which refers to an individual’s country of origin, the origin of an individual’s ancestors, or the physical, cultural, or linguistic

characteristics of a particular nationality. This includes characteristics

such as last name, accent, and cultural heritage;

 age, which refers to persons aged 40 or over; or

 disability, which refers to physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities of an individual.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against and want to file a

complaint with the federal government, this publication is intended to help

you.

This publication will help you review your rights and guide you through the

initial steps of filing a discrimination complaint; it will not inform you of all the

steps involved in successfully pursuing the complaint after you have filed it. If

you desire a detailed description of the overall process beyond the initial

steps, further information can be obtained by contacting the federal, state,

and local officials or one or more of the organizations listed in this publication.
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How do you prepare a complaint? Where do you send it?

Before you file a discrimination complaint, you should seek more information from:

 trained legal counsel;

 federal, state, and local officials; and/or

 public service organizations referenced in this publication.

States, counties, and municipalities also have laws against discrimination,

which sometimes provide different protection or relief. If they have laws that

apply to your complaint, you may file with them instead of, or in addition to,

filing with the federal government. The federal government has arrangements with some state and local governments to refer certain kinds of complaints to these localities for processing.

Among the federal laws that require people to be treated equally are the

Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991, the Voting

Rights Act of 1965, Executive Order 11,246 (1965), as amended by Executive

Order 11,375 (1967), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the

Fair Housing Act of 1968, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, the

Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974, the Age Discrimination Act of

1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, the Community

Reinvestment Act of 1977, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986,

the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Fair Housing Amendments Act of

1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Voting Rights Language

Assistance Act of 1992, and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

Many federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and the

regulations to implement them. Some agencies require individuals to complete a complaint form before they act against an individual or organization

that violates people’s rights. Because laws and regulations frequently require

that complaints be filed within certain time limits, it is important to file immediately after the discriminatory act occurs. While this publication provides telephone numbers, complainants are strongly encouraged to submit a

written complaint, attaching copies of all pertinent information. At some point

in the process, the agency most probably will require written documentation.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) has no power to enforce

laws and, hence, cannot resolve individual complaints of discrimination.

However, after reading this publication, if you are still uncertain what agency

you should contact to file a complaint of discrimination, you may contact the

Commission at the following address and we can assist you by referring your

matter to the appropriate civil rights enforcement agency:
3

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Office of Civil Rights Evaluation

COMPLAINTS REFERRAL

624 Ninth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20425

(202) 376-8513

(800) 552-6843

TTY: (202) 376-8116

Fax: (202) 376-7754

www.referrals@usccr.gov

You may also contact the appropriate USCCR regional office. See page

94.
4

2. How to File a Complaint

Your complaint should be in writing, preferably typed or printed neatly,

dated, signed, and should include the following information:

 your name;

 your address, and your home and work telephone numbers;

 the name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) and/or establishment you

believe to have discriminated against you;

 a description of the act(s) of discrimination. This should include the date

and place of the action(s), and what you believe to be the basis for discrimination (race, sex, etc.); and

 the name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of any person(s)

with information concerning your complaint.

When your complaint is investigated, you may be asked to provide copies

of receipts, contracts, or other records supporting your claim of discrimination. Any materials that you would want returned should not be sent with your

initial complaint.

Generally, most government agencies require that complaints be postmarked within 180 days of the discriminatory action. You should, however,

inquire about specific deadlines that may apply to your case. Depending on

your type of case or your status, you may be required to file your complaint

earlier.
5

3. When and Where to File a Complaint

Some agencies handle complaints only at their Washington, DC, headquarters; others process them through regional or local offices. Some handle

them at both places. For more details, take note of any special instructions

regarding the filing of complaints at the specific agencies listed throughout

this publication.

Credit

Federal laws such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 and the

Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended, prohibit discrimination in providing

credit or credit-related services. Both laws prohibit discrimination in residential real estate transactions, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act also prohibits discrimination in consumer and business or commercial loans. In all

credit transactions you are protected from discrimination that occurs on the

basis of your race, color, religion, sex, marital status, age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract), national origin, or receipt of public assistance, or because you have exercised a right under the Consumer Credit

Protection Act. In credit transactions related to housing, you are also protected from discrimination because of family status or disability. According to

these laws, when you apply for credit a creditor may not:

 discourage you from applying;

 ask you to reveal your gender, race, national origin, or religion. A creditor may ask you to voluntarily disclose this information if you are applying for a home loan. A creditor may also ask about your residence or

immigration status;

 ask whether you are divorced or widowed;

 ask what is your marital status if you are applying for individual, unsecured credit, unless you live in a community property state;

 ask you for information about your husband or wife. A creditor may ask

about your spouse, or former spouse, if: your spouse is applying with

you; your spouse will be allowed to use the account; you are relying on

your spouse’s income or on alimony or child support income from a

former spouse; or if you reside in a community property state;

 ask about your plans for having or rearing children; or
6

 ask if you receive alimony, child support, or separate maintenance

payments.

When deciding whether to give you, credit a creditor may not:

 consider your gender, marital status, race, color, national origin, or religion;

 consider the race of the people who live in the neighborhood where you

want to buy, or improve, a house with borrowed money; or

 consider your age, unless you are too young to sign a binding contract,

generally under 18 years of age, or if the information is to be used to

see whether your income will be reduced with retirement.

When evaluating your income, a creditor may not:

 refuse to consider public assistance income, alimony, child support, or

separate maintenance payments if that income is received consistently;

 discount income because of your gender or marital status or on any basis for which discrimination is prohibited;

 discount or refuse to consider income derived from pension, annuity, or

retirement benefits programs; or

 discount or refuse to consider income derived from part-time employment, but you may have to show that this income can be expected to

continue.

You also have the right to:

 have the credit in your birth name, your first name, and your spouse’s

last name, or your first name and combined last names;

 obtain credit without a cosigner, if you meet the creditor’s standards;

 have a cosigner other than your husband or wife, if one is necessary;

 keep your own account after you change your name, marital status,

reach a certain age, or retire, unless the creditor has evidence that you

are unable or unwilling to pay;

 know within 30 days of filing your application whether it has been accepted or rejected;
7

 know specifically why an application was rejected, since indefinite and

vague reasons are illegal;

 learn the specific reasons why you were offered less favorable terms

than those for which you applied; and

 receive copies of appraisal reports for credit that is to be secured by a

dwelling.

If you think you have been discriminated against by a creditor:

 in being discouraged from applying for credit or a loan;

 in being given unfair terms for credit or a loan; or

 in being denied credit or a loan;

write to the agency in charge of enforcing the equal credit practices of that

lender.

A creditor must give you the name and address of the appropriate enforcement agency when it turns down the terms you request or denies you credit. If

a lender does not offer you this information or refuses to give it to you, write to

the appropriate agency in the list that follows. These agencies may not resolve

individual complaints, but they will use consumer comments to decide which

companies to investigate.

You should also complain if you think a lender is “redlining”—refusing to

make loans, or setting different conditions for loans, on property in a community because of the area’s racial, religious, or ethnic population. When

certain financial institutions try to get approval from their regulatory agency

to:

 obtain federal deposit insurance;

 establish a facility authorized to receive deposits, or relocate an existing

office;

 merge or consolidate with, or acquire another institution;

 acquire deposits from another institution; or

 form a bank or savings association holding company;

individuals and community groups have an opportunity to comment on

whether the institution is redlining as an objection to its approval for the proposed transaction. You can request the regulatory agency to place you on its

mailing list so you are aware of the comment period for:
8

 a nationally chartered bank (National or N.A. will be part of the name).

Write to one of the district offices of the Comptroller of the Currency

listed on page 52. For publications or additional information contact:

Comptroller of the Currency

Compliance Management

Independence Square

250 E Street, SW

Washington, DC 20219

(202) 874-5216

TTY: (202) 922-3275

www.occ.treas.gov

 a bank holding company or state-chartered bank that is a member of the

Federal Reserve System. Write to one of the Federal Reserve Banks

listed on page 73 or contact:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Division of Consumer and Community Affairs

20th and C Streets, NW

Mail Stop 801

Washington, DC 20551-0001

(202) 452-3693

Fax: (202) 728-5850

www.federalreserve.gov

or

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Publications Services

20th and C Streets, NW

Mail Stop 127

Washington, DC 20551-0001

(202) 452-3245

 a state-chartered bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation (it will display the FDIC symbol) and not a member of the

Federal Reserve System. Write to one of the regional offices on page

71 or to:
9

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Consumer Affairs

550 17th Street, NW, Suite 5112

Washington, DC 20429

(202) 898-6601

(877) 275-3342

TDD: (800) 925-4618

www.fdic.gov

 a federally insured savings association or federally chartered savings

bank. Write to one of the regional offices of the Office of Thrift Supervision on page 78 or to:

Office of Thrift Supervision

Consumer Programs

1700 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20552

(202) 906-6237

(800) 842-6929

TTY: (800) 877-8339

Fax: (202) 906-6326

www.ots.treas.gov

Although federal credit unions are not subject to the Community Reinvestment Act, they must comply with fair lending laws and the nondiscrimination

rules issued by their regulators. Forward any complaint to one of the regional

offices of the National Credit Union Administration listed on page 77 or to:

National Credit Union Administration

1775 Duke Street, Suite 4206

Alexandria, VA 22314-3437

(703) 519-4600

TTY: (703) 518-6332

Fax: (703) 518-6429

www.ncua.gov

Complaints against a state-chartered credit union should be forwarded to

the state office that oversees credit unions or to the Federal Trade Commission listed on page 11.

Complaints against an institution of the U.S. Cooperative Farm Credit

System, such as farm credit banks, federal land bank associations, production credit associations, agricultural credit banks, federal land credit associations, and agricultural credit associations should be forwarded to:
10

Farm Credit Administration

Office of Congressional and Public Affairs

1501 Farm Credit Drive

McLean, VA 22102-5090

V/TTY: (703) 883-4056

Fax: (703) 790-3260

www.fca.gov

Complaints of discrimination in benefits or services provided by recipients

of Small Business Administration (SBA) financial assistance or SBA program offices should be forwarded to:

U.S. Small Business Administration

Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Compliance

409 Third Street, SW, Suite 6400

Washington, DC 20416

(202) 205-6750

TTY: (202) 205-7150

Fax: (202) 205-7580

www.sba.gov

If you think you have been discriminated against in violation of the Fair

Housing Act, contact one of the HUD enforcement centers listed on page 58

or:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Office of Investigations

451 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5204

Washington, DC 20410-2000

(202) 619-8041

(202) 708-0836

Hot line: (800) 669-9777

TTY: (800) 927-9275

Fax: (202) 708-1425

www.hud.gov

Financial institutions have an obligation to meet the credit needs of your

community, even though it may be characterized by low- or moderate-income

residents. The Department of Justice handles discrimination complaints filed

against all kinds of creditors. It may sue lenders who show a pattern or practice of equal credit opportunity violations, or file suit in cases referred to it by

the agencies that initially investigate complaints. To contact the Department

of Justice, call or write to:
11

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Housing and Civil Enforcement Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-4713

Fax: (202) 514-1116

www.usdoj.gov

For more information on discrimination in credit-lending and credit-related

services, including information about bringing suit under the Equal Credit

Opportunity Act, call the Federal Trade Commission or write to:

Federal Trade Commission

Consumer Response Center

Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

(202) 326-3758

(202) 326-2222

Hot line: (877) 382-4357

TTY: (202) 326-2502

Fax: (202) 326-2050

www.ftc.gov

Education

According to federal laws that prohibit discrimination because of race,

color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in programs that receive federal

financial assistance, any program or activity that receives funds from the

Department of Education must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Any educational or other institution or facility that receives federal financial

assistance may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,

sex, disability, or age so as to:

 deny you or your child aid, a service, or a benefit afforded others;

 provide you or your child an inferior service;

 segregate you or your child on the basis of race, color, or national origin;

 segregate you or your child on the basis of sex, other than for contact

sports or varsity athletic competition, or segregate you or your child on

the basis of disability where such segregation is not educationally necessary;
12

 deny admission to schools or postsecondary institutions on the basis of

race, color, national origin, or age, or generally, on the basis of sex except with regard to admission to religious undergraduate institutions;

 engage in conduct that has the effect of denying you or your child aid, a

service, or a benefit, or otherwise discriminating against you or your

child;

 deny or restrict you or your child’s access to elementary, secondary, or

vocational education because you are, or your child is, limited-English

proficient;

 or otherwise treat you or your child adversely on the basis of race,

color, national origin, gender, disability, or age.

Schools may not discriminate against students because of pregnancy,

parenthood, or marital status. Such discrimination includes barring a student

from classes or extracurricular activities or expulsion.

In sports, schools must provide equivalent treatment, services, and benefits to students of both sexes.

Civil rights laws protecting individuals from discrimination in programs (all

activities of an institution) that receive federal funds extend to all state educational agencies, elementary and secondary school systems, colleges and universities, vocational schools, proprietary schools, state vocational rehabilitation

agencies, libraries, and museums that receive federal financial assistance.

These programs may include, but are not limited to, admissions, recruitment,

financial aid, academic programs, student treatment and services, counseling

and guidance, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, vocational education,

recreation, physical education, athletics, housing, and employment.

Federal antidiscrimination laws apply to the entire program even if the

federal assistance affects only a small portion of the program.

In addition, Executive Order 13,160 prohibits discrimination based on race,

sex, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, and status

as a parent in federally conducted education and training programs.

If you think you or your child has been discriminated against by a public

school, college, or university, or a private school, college, or university that

receives federal financial assistance, you may file a formal complaint against

the institution receiving federal funds with the appropriate regional office of

the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education

listed on page 53 or with:
13

U.S. Department of Education

Office for Civil Rights

330 C Street, SW, Suite 5000

Washington, DC 20202

(202) 205-5413

(800) 421-3481

(877) 521-2172

Fax: (202) 205-5381

www.ed.gov

The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the

alleged discrimination, but may complain on behalf of another person or

group.

The complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the date of the

alleged discrimination. However, if you already filed under the educational institution’s grievance procedures, you will be allowed 60 days from the last act

of the institution grievance process. Your formal complaint should include the

information outlined in Chapter 2 and also state whether you think a whole

group of students or teachers is being discriminated against.

Certain complaints should also be sent to the U.S. Attorney General, who

may bring suit after receiving a written and signed complaint from:

 a parent (or group of parents), stating that his or her child is one of a

group being discriminated against by a school board; or

 an individual, or his or her parent, stating that he or she has been denied admission to, or dismissed from, a public college, university, or

postsecondary vocational or technical school because of race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.

These complaints should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Educational Opportunities Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-4092

Fax: (202) 514-8337

www.usdoj.gov
14

If you think you or your child has been discriminated against on the basis of

race, color, or national or ethnic origin by a nonprofit private school that is

exempt from federal income tax, you should contact IRS at the following address. IRS can revoke the tax exemption of a private school that has a racially discriminatory policy, which includes discrimination on the bases of

color and national or ethnic origin.

Internal Revenue Service

Director, Exempt Organizations Division

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor

Washington, DC 20224

(202) 283-2300

Fax: (202) 283-8858

www.irs.gov

If you think your child has been discriminated against because of race,

color, or national origin by a vocational, technical, elementary, or secondary

school that is privately owned, operated for profit, and not run by a hospital,

you should write to:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Office of Resolution Management

810 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20420

(202) 501-2800

(888) 737-3361

Fax: (202) 501-2885

www.va.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs can act if it pays benefits for any

veteran enrolled at the school or otherwise assists that school, even if the

person discriminated against is not a veteran.

In addition, federal laws require that public schools provide a free, appropriate public education to children with disabilities. If you believe that your

local school system has failed to identify your child’s disability, incorrectly

identified your child as an individual with a disability, failed to provide an appropriate educational program for your child, failed to carry out the program

established for your child, or has unnecessarily separated your child from

other children for all or part of the school day, your child may have rights

under one or more of the federal laws that govern the education of children

with disabilities.
15

School systems must have formal procedures for identifying, evaluating,

and establishing educational programs for children with disabilities. They

must also offer a hearing when the parent and school officials disagree

whether the program established for a child is appropriate.

Also, if you believe that your child’s civil rights were violated because of a

failure to follow proper procedures for identifying, evaluating, or placing a

student with a disability, or because of a failure to carry out the provisions of

your child’s educational plan, or were otherwise violated because of discrimination based on disability, you may file a complaint by writing to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights listed on page 13.

For more information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,

write to:

U.S. Department of Education

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education

and Rehabilitative Services

Mary E. Switzer Building

330 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20202-2500

(202) 205-5507

Fax: (202) 260-0416

TTY: (202) 205-9754

www.ed.gov

Employment

Various federal laws protect you from discrimination in employment on the

basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Discrimination by employers with 15 or more employees is prohibited in all aspects of

the hiring and employment process: job application, hiring, firing, promoting,

training, wage earning, or any other terms, privileges, or conditions of employment provided or imposed by the employer.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against on any of these

bases, you should contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

1801 L Street, NW

Washington, DC 20507

To file charges or reach a field office: (800) 669-4000

Information and publication center: (800) 669-3362

(202) 663-4900

TTY: (202) 663-4494

TTY: (800) 800-3302

www.eeoc.gov
16

Race and Color

You cannot be denied equal employment opportunity because of your racial group or skin shade, or because you associate with members of some

racial group.

National Origin

You cannot be denied equal employment opportunity because of your

birthplace, ancestry, or culture, or because you have some intimate association with members of a specific ethnic group, such as by marriage or a

shared place of worship.

Likewise, you cannot be denied equal employment opportunity because of

your accent or manner of speaking. If an employer believes that an Englishproficiency rule is critical for business purposes, he or she must inform you of

the rule and the consequences of its violation before applying the rule to you.

Religion

You cannot be denied equal employment opportunity because of your religious practices or beliefs. Religious practices include the exercise of moral

and ethical beliefs held with the strength of religious beliefs. If you think your

employer has a work requirement (such as a dress code or a work schedule

that conflicts with your Sabbath observance) that interferes with your religious practices or beliefs, you must inform them of what reasonable accommodations can be provided to suit your needs. The employer is obligated to

try to accommodate your religious practices, unless doing so would create

an undue hardship on the operation of the business.

Sex

You cannot be denied equal employment opportunity because of your

gender.

 Equal Pay

It is illegal for an employer to pay you wages at a rate less than the rate of

wages paid to employees of the opposite sex for equal work on jobs that

require equal skill, effort, and responsibility and are performed under similar

working conditions, unless a pay differential is warranted by a seniority system, a merit system, a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality

of production, or is based on a factor other than gender.
17

 Pregnancy

You cannot be denied equal employment opportunity because of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Any health insurance provided by an employer must cover expenses for pregnancy-related conditions

on the same basis as costs for other medical conditions. Leave for child care

should be granted on the same basis as leave granted to employees for other

nonmedical reasons, such as non-job-related travel or education, and should

be available to both men and women.

Harassment

Hostile or abusive verbal or physical conduct based on race, color, sex,

religion, national origin, age, or disability is unlawful if it is sufficiently severe

or pervasive to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Disability

If you have a disability, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects

you from employment discrimination. The ADA prohibits employers with 15

or more employees from:

 discriminating against you on the basis of physical or mental disability;

 asking you to take medical exams before making a conditional job offer;

 asking you questions about your disability before making a conditional job

offer;

 denying you health or other fringe benefits that are provided to other employees; and

 placing you in a job situation that limits your opportunities or status.

If you are able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without

reasonable accommodation, the employer has to provide you with reasonable accommodations for your disability, as long as such accommodations

do not impose an undue hardship on the operations of the enterprise. An

employer may not ask interview questions about your disabilities; inquiries

should be about your skills related to the job.

For more information on workplace discrimination against people with disabilities, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission listed on

page 15.
18

You may also write to:

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Disability Employment Policy

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20210

(202) 376-6200

TTY: (202) 376-6205

Fax: (202) 376-6219

www.dol.gov/dol/odep/welcome.html

or

A service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy:

Job Accommodation Network

West Virginia University

P.O. Box 6080

Morgantown, WV 26506

Voice/TTY: (800) 526-7234

Fax: (304) 293-5407

BBS: (800) 342-5526

Regional Disability and Business Accommodation Centers

Voice/TTY: (800) 949-4232

www.jan.wvu.edu

Age

If you are 40 years of age or older, it is illegal for an employer with 20 or

more employees to:

 discriminate against you in your compensation or terms, conditions, or

privileges of employment based on your age;

 classify or segregate you, or limit your activities so you are deprived of

job opportunities or adversely affected in employment status;

 discriminate against you in the operation of a seniority system; and

 with certain narrow exceptions, discriminate against you with respect to

employee benefit plans, fringe benefits, or pension benefits.

It is also illegal for an employer to indicate an age preference or limitation

in notices or advertisements for employment, unless age is a genuine job

qualification.
19

Classifications and preferences based on age have been allowed only in

narrow circumstances, generally in jobs involving public safety. To justify

unequal treatment, the employer must show that age is a genuine qualification of the job and that there is no other course of action that would achieve

his or her goals with a less discriminatory impact.

For more information on age discrimination in the workplace, contact the

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on page 15.

Family and Medical Leave

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you are entitled to a

maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period if you work

for an employer who has had at least 50 employees during the current or

preceding year, you have worked for the employer for at least 12 months,

and you have worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12-month period before the

leave starts. You must also work at a particular work site where there are at

least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. During the leave, the employer

must continue to provide group health benefits on the same basis that such

benefits are provided when you are at work. The employer must also restore

you to the same or an equivalent position when you are ready to return to

work. Leave may be taken for the birth and care of a new child, for placement for adoption or foster care of a child with you, to care for your spouse,

child, or a parent who has a serious health condition, or if you must be absent due to your serious health condition. You may elect or the employer

may require you to use accrued paid leave during such periods. FMLA leave

may also run concurrently with workers’ compensation leave or leave covered

by short- or long-term disability policies. Employers may not refuse leave, interfere with use of leave, or in any way discriminate against someone who has

used leave. The FMLA protects men and women equally and is enforced

by the U.S. Department of Labor. The federal law does not supersede more

generous provisions included in state laws, collective bargaining agreements, or employers’ policies. Any less generous provision in such laws,

agreements, or policies are, however, superseded by FMLA provisions.

If you feel that your rights under family or medical leave have been

violated, you may file a complaint with the local office of the Wage and Hour

Division of the Department of Labor or you may initiate private action. The

address and telephone number of local offices can be found in telephone

directories for large cities under U.S. Department of Labor, Employment

Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. If you cannot locate

this information, contact the regional office of the Wage and Hour Division

listed on page 62 or headquarters listed below.

If you file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division, the Division will

attempt to resolve your complaint administratively by contacting your employer on your behalf. If these efforts fail, the Division may attempt to litigate

on your behalf, depending on the facts and circumstances. If you elect private legal action, the Division will not participate. To file a complaint or for

more information on FMLA, contact:
20

U.S. Department of Labor

Employment Standards Administration

Wage and Hour Division

Francis Perkins Building

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20210

1-866-4-USA-DOL

TTY: (877) 889-5629

www.dol.gov

Immigration Status

If you are an employee hired after November 6, 1986, your employer must

be able to prove that you are legally authorized to work in the United States

and will ask you to present documentation showing that you have work authorization. However, an employer cannot single you out to require employment verification because you are of a particular national origin group or you

appear not to be a citizen. Neither can an employer require that you be a U.S.

citizen, or generally give those who are U.S. citizens a preference in hiring or

employment opportunities, unless there are legal or contractual requirements

that mandate he or she do so. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate

against legal aliens merely because they look like noncitizens or in fact are

not citizens or because they have a particular type of work authorization.

Under immigration law, individuals who charge discrimination on the basis

of national origin against employers with 4 to 14 employees or on the basis

of citizenship status against employers with fewer employees should file a

complaint within 180 days of the date of the alleged unfair immigration-related

employment practice with the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices in the Department of Justice.

For more information about immigrants’ employment rights, contact:

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Special Counsel

for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 616-5594

Employer hot line: (800) 255-8155

Employee hot line: (800) 255-7688

Fax: (202) 616-5509

www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc
21

Whatever your characteristic, the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC) is the agency of the federal government with the mission of protecting you from job discrimination. If you think you have been

discriminated against because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin,

age, or disability:

 by an employer in being hired or tested for a job, in being promoted or

fired, in work opportunities or conditions, in pay or benefits, or in apprenticeship or training programs;

 by a labor union in its apprenticeship or training programs, hiring hall

procedures, or membership requirements; or

 by an employment agency, including state employment services, in its

job testing, referrals, or fees;

write or phone the nearest office of EEOC listed on page 66. The office will

give you instructions and forms for filing a charge.

Charges must be filed within 180 or 300 days of the discriminatory act. In

states or localities without an antidiscrimination law, charges must be filed

with EEOC within 180 days of the discriminatory act. In states or localities

where there is an antidiscrimination law and an agency authorized to grant or

seek relief, charges must be filed with EEOC within 300 days of the discriminatory act. The local EEOC office can tell you what procedures and time limits apply to your charge.

Although EEOC prefers that its forms be used, it will accept a complaint

filed in the form of a letter containing your name and address and that of the

employer, union, or employment office you think has discriminated. You must

date the letter and briefly explain what the discriminatory act was and when it

occurred.

Contact one of the district offices of EEOC listed on page 66 or EEOC headquarters:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

1801 L Street, NW

Washington, DC 20507

To file charges or reach a field office: (800) 669-4000

Information and publication center: (800) 669-3362

(202) 663-4900

TTY: (202) 663-4494

TTY: (800) 669-6820

www.eeoc.gov
22

If EEOC does not act within 180 days of the filing of your complaint, you

may request a right-to-sue letter from EEOC and file a private lawsuit in federal district court. You have only 90 days to file a lawsuit after you receive a

right-to-sue letter. If the discrimination complaint deals with equal pay, you do

not have to file a charge with EEOC before filing a lawsuit. The Department of

Justice (DOJ) is responsible for employment discrimination litigation involving

state and local governments. The EEOC will refer requests for right-to-sue

letters involving public employers to DOJ, which will issue the letter.

A presidential order (Executive Order 11,246) also forbids employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or religion by companies that hold contracts or subcontracts with the federal government and by

firms working on construction projects that receive federal funds. In addition,

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, forbids employment discrimination

on the basis of disability by companies that hold contracts or subcontracts with

the federal government. Employers holding contracts or subcontracts with the

federal government are also barred from discriminating against qualified disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. If you think an employer who

has discriminated against you holds a contract with a federal agency, contact

the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Department of Labor listed below, or one of the OFCCP regional offices listed on

page 61.

U.S. Department of Labor

Employment Standards Administration

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room C3310

Washington, DC 20210

1-866-4-USA-DOL

Fax: (877) 889-5627

www.dol.gov

Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless an OFCCP director extends it for a good reason. If you

are disabled or a Vietnam era veteran, you must file within 300 days, unless

filing is extended for good cause. If your complaint is an individual complaint

of discrimination against an employer, it will probably be referred to EEOC. If

it is one of systemic discrimination or if there are several complaints, or if

many other persons are also affected by a pattern and practice of discrimination, the Labor Department will generally take the lead in processing the

complaint.

OFCCP also has an ombudsperson who receives and investigates complaints made by individuals alleging abuse by OFCCP staff in the processing

of discrimination complaints or conduct of compliance reviews. The ombudsperson can be reached by telephone on (303) 844-1210 or by fax at (303)

844-1213.

If you are a federal employee, or an applicant for federal employment, and

think you have been discriminated against, contact the equal employment
23

director of the agency involved within 45 days of the alleged discrimination.

That person will provide information about filing a complaint. If the agency

rules against you, you should ask the equal employment opportunity director

what appeal rights you have and what the time limits are for filing an appeal.

If your complaint concerns an action that may be appealed to the Merit

Systems Protection Board (MSPB), such as being fired, you must include

the discrimination issues as part of your appeal to MSPB, which must be

filed within 30 calendar days of the effective date of the action, or within 30

calendar days after the date of receipt of the agency’s decision whichever is

later, or you must raise these issues separately in your agency’s EEO administrative process. The EEO administrative process differs when a personnel action can be appealed to MSPB and when it cannot; therefore, you

must request your EEO counselor to provide you with information about the

differences. The MSPB complaint forms can be obtained from your agency,

the regional office of the Merit Systems Protection Board listed on page 75,

or the Office of the Clerk of MSPB by writing to:

U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board

Clerk of the Board

1615 M Street, NW

Washington, DC 20419

(202) 653-7200

(800) 209-8960

TTY: (202) 653-8896

Fax: (202) 653-7130

www.mspb.gov

If you are a federal employee entitled to use a negotiated grievance procedure that covers the alleged discrimination, you may elect to file a grievance pursuant to the negotiated procedure in your collective bargaining

agreement or to file an EEO complaint, but not both.

It is a prohibited personnel practice to discriminate against a federal employee or an applicant for federal employment on the basis of race, color,

national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, or political affiliation. Though the Office of Special Counsel generally defers to the agency’s

EEO program, you may file a discrimination complaint with:

U.S. Office of Special Counsel

Complaints Examining Unit

1730 M Street, NW, Suite 218

Washington, DC 20036-4505

Public Information: (202) 653-7984

(202) 254-3670

(800) 872-9855

TTY: (800) 877-8339

www.osc.gov
24

If you are an employee of a state or local government, an employment

discrimination complaint on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion,

sex, disability, or age may be filed with EEOC. EEOC may defer resolution of

your complaint to the state or local fair employment practices agency depending on the terms of a particular work-sharing agreement. The Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of

Justice sues state and local government employers who discriminate in employment on the grounds of race, national origin, sex, or religion. EEOC will

refer such cases and disability cases in which it appears that discrimination

has occurred to the Department of Justice for litigation consideration, if conciliation has failed. If you think you have been discriminated against by a

state or local government and wish to file a charge, write to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (listed on page 15).

EEOC may sue the state or local government in cases involving age discrimination and sex-based pay discrimination.

If you think you have been discriminated against by a state employment

service (although its actions are also covered by EEOC), unemployment

benefits office, or by Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA)

job-training or public service employment programs, write to the appropriate

regional office of the Department of Labor. For addresses, see page 61. If

you think you have been discriminated against by an apprenticeship program

registered with the Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency,

write to:

U.S. Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration

Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-4649

Washington, DC 20210

(202) 219-5921

TTY: 219-6325

Fax: (202) 693-3900

www.doleta.gov

If you think you have been discriminated against by a job-training center

that receives federal assistance, write to the appropriate federal agency. For

example, the Department of Veterans Affairs can act if it pays benefits for

any veteran enrolled at the school, or otherwise assists the school, even if

the person discriminated against is not a veteran.

If you think you have been discriminated against by a criminal justice

agency that is receiving federal funds from the Office of Justice Programs,

you may write to:
25

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office for Civil Rights

810 7th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20531

(202) 307-0690

TTY: (202) 307-2027

Fax: (202) 616-9865

Complaints of employment discrimination on the basis of disability by law

enforcement agencies that received Department of Justice funds may also

be sent to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Disability Rights Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 307-2227

(800) 514-0301

TTY: (800) 514-0383

Fax: (202) 307-1198

www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada

Numerous other federal agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture,

the Federal Communications Commission, the Treasury Department, the

Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Environmental Protection

Agency, enforce statutes that contain prohibitions against discrimination by

particular groups of employers. In almost all cases, EEOC also has jurisdiction. An individual’s rights and remedies may differ from agency to agency. It

may be to your advantage to contact all involved agencies you think may enforce laws covering your situation so that you can make an informed decision

as to the most appropriate agency with which to file a complaint.

EEOC is responsible for coordinating federal enforcement of laws against

employment discrimination. In addition, its Office of Equal Employment Opportunity works with all federal agencies in developing more effective procedures and uniform standards for handling complaints and ensuring

compliance with employment discrimination laws. If you believe a complaint

filed with another agency has not been properly handled, you should write to:
26

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Office of Equal Employment Opportunity

1801 L Street, NW, Room 9029

Washington, DC 20507

(202) 663-4900

Fax: (202) 663-7003

www.eeoc.gov

Information on all EEOC-enforced laws may be obtained by calling toll-free

1-800-669-EEOC. EEOC’s toll-free TTY number is (800) 800-3302. For other

information, call the Office of Equal Opportunity at (202) 663-4395 (voice) or

(202) 663-4399 (TTY) or write to:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs

1801 L Street, NW

Washington, DC 20507

(202) 663-4900

TTY: (202) 663-4494

Fax: (202) 663-4912

www.eeoc.gov

Hate Crimes/Campus Anti-Semitism

Hate crimes are criminal offenses committed against persons, property, or

society motivated by prejudice or bias against an individual’s or group’s race,

religion, disability, sexual orientation or national origin.

For instance, serious incidents of campus anti-Semitism have occurred

on campuses around the nation, including threats of violence that may be

conveyed through swastikas painted on walls, destruction of property, and

physical and verbal assaults. Federal law prohibits the use of force or threat

of force to interfere with a person engaging in various federally protected

activities, including attending a public college or university, on the basis of

race, color, religion, or national origin.

If you think you have been the victim of a hate crime, contact:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Criminal Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-3204

Fax: (202) 514-8336
27

You may also report such crimes to your area Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Housing

Discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race, color,

national origin, religion, sex, disability, or family status (having children) is

illegal. On such a basis, it is illegal to:

 refuse to rent or sell housing;

 refuse to negotiate for housing;

 make housing unavailable;

 deny housing;

 set different terms, conditions, or privileges for the sale or rental of a

dwelling, or provide different services or facilities in connection with the

sale or rental;

 falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental;

 engage in blockbusting practices by persuading owners to sell or rent

by telling them that minorities are moving into a neighborhood;

 deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service related to

the sale or rental of housing, such as membership in multiple listing

services or real estate brokers’ organizations;

 make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any

notice, statement, or advertisement indicating any preference, limitation, or discrimination with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling;

 discriminate in the making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial services for a dwelling, including making available property insurance;

 discriminate in the appraising of residential property; or

 refuse to permit reasonable alterations to make a dwelling accessible

for disabled tenants, or to provide reasonable accommodations for

equal opportunity to enjoy the dwelling.
28

If you think you have been discriminated against:

 in trying to buy or rent a house or apartment;

 in getting a housing loan (see also the section on credit);

 in seeking real estate broker services;

or if you wish to complain about advertisements that say housing is available only

to persons of a certain race, color, national origin, sex, or religion, you may file a

complaint with the nearest Fair Housing Enforcement Center of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) listed on page 58 or with:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

451 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5204

Washington, DC 20410-2000

(202) 619-8041

Hot line: (800) 669-9777, (202) 708-0836

TTY: (800) 927-9275

Fax: (202) 708-1425

www.hud.gov

For more information about how to file a complaint or to obtain forms, call

the Fair Housing Clearinghouse at (800) 343-3442.

You may file suit, at your expense, in federal district court or state court.

You may bring suit even after filing a complaint, if you have not signed a

conciliation agreement and an administrative law judge has not started a

hearing. You must file suit within 2 years of the alleged discriminatory action.

Finally, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice,

which may step in if a pattern or practice of discrimination appears to exist,

or if the denial of rights to a group of persons raises an important public issue. Send the complaint to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Housing and Civil Enforcement Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-4713

Fax: (202) 514-1116

www.usdoj.gov
29

If you think you have been discriminated against in seeking real estate

broker services, where such services include credit referral, you should

also send a complaint to:

Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection

FTC Building

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

(202) 326-2222

TTY: (202) 326-2050

Fax: (202) 326-2050

www.ftc.gov

Neither HUD nor the Justice Department has authority to act in some instances of discrimination, such as those that occur in the sale or rental of a

single-family home by a private individual who owns three or fewer such

units and does not advertise or use a broker, or in the rental of a room or

apartment in a dwelling containing four or fewer units, if the owner lives in

one of them.

Law Enforcement

Federal criminal civil rights law prohibits law enforcement agents from

conspiring to interfere with federally protected rights, depriving rights under

color of law, or using or conspiring to use force, or threat of force, to interfere

with the free exercise of your civil rights.

To report criminal activities that constitute violations of civil rights, contact:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Criminal Section, PHB

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-3204

Fax: (202) 514-8336

www.usdoj.gov

If you have a complaint of police brutality or the abuse of your rights by

the police or other public officials, contact the nearest office of the Federal

Bureau of Investigation (FBI), listed in the front of your telephone directory

under “police,” or write to the Department of Justice at the address above.

An individual who believes that a law enforcement agency receiving Department of Justice assistance, such as a police or sheriff’s department, jail,

state police, or corrections system, is discriminating on the basis of race,

color, national origin, religion, sex, or age may file a complaint with:
30

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Coordination and Review Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 307-2222

TTY: (202) 307-2678

Fax: (202) 307-0595

www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/index.htm

or

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office for Civil Rights

810 Seventh Street, NW, Room 8124

Washington, DC 20531

(202) 307-0690

TTY: (202) 307-2027

Fax: (202) 616-9865

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ocr

Complaints of discrimination on the basis of disability by law enforcement

agencies may also be sent to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Disability Rights Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 307-2227

(800) 514-0301

TTY: (800) 514-0383

Fax: (202) 307-1198

Prisoners

The constitutional rights of inmates are very limited. Prisoners’ rights that

are protected are:

 a right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, which is usually

construed to mean the infliction of unnecessary and unrestricted pain;

and

 a right to exercise religious beliefs. Prisoners must be allowed the opportunity to pray and to meet with other inmates to worship within a
31

group. Even individuals in disciplinary detention are entitled to pray and

read religious texts.

Also, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution requires that the conditions of women’s prisons be equal to the conditions under which male prisoners are held, and vice versa.

If you are confined to a Federal Bureau of Prisons institution and believe

you have been discriminated against by the institution, you should file a formal

written complaint at the institution within 20 calendar days of the incident. Extensions of time will be granted where there is a valid reason for the delay. You

should follow the internal grievance procedure unless you think that your complaint is such that you might be adversely affected if the nature of the complaint

became known within the institution, in which case you may file the complaint

with the appropriate Regional Director of the Bureau of Prisons (for addresses,

see page 51). Your complaint should include an explanation of why you have

chosen to file with the Regional Director. If the complaint alleges that your

health or welfare is immediately threatened, the warden must respond

through the regional office within 48 hours of receiving the complaint.

If you are confined to a non-federal institution and want to file a complaint about conditions or practices of the institution, follow the internal grievance procedure of the institution. In some prison systems it is necessary to

file an institutional grievance before filing suit in federal court.

Under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, the Attorney General is authorized to file suit on behalf of inmates at a given institution to redress systematic deprivations of inmates’ constitutional rights. To file a

complaint with the Attorney General, write to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Special Litigation Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-6255

(877) 218-5228

Fax: (202) 514-0212

www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/index.html

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), prisoners with disabilities, particularly prisoners with HIV, may have a right to participate in various

services, programs, and activities. Complaints of discrimination under the

ADA should be filed with the Department of Justice (for address, see page

25) within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act.
32

Federally Assisted Programs

Discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or disability

in federally assisted programs is prohibited. This prohibition applies to recipients of federal assistance and subrecipients. Discrimination on the basis

of sex or religion is also prohibited in some federally assisted programs. Discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited in all federally assisted education programs.

In addition, recipients of federal funds are required to provide linguistic

accessibility to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP), such as

translation services and written notice informing them of their rights.

Laws barring discrimination because of race, color, national origin, or disability in federally assisted programs cover benefits and services provided by

the program. As a result, recipients of federal assistance may not discriminate to:

 deny an individual service, aid, or benefits;

 provide only inferior or discriminatory service, aid, or benefits;

 subject an individual to segregation or different treatment in relation to

aid, service, or benefits;

 restrict or discourage individuals in their access to and usage of facilities;

 treat an individual differently in regard to eligibility for programs or services;

 use criteria that would impair accomplishment of the program’s objectives or that would subject individuals to discrimination; or

 deny an individual access to any program or activity that is conducted in

a facility constructed wholly or partly with federal funds.

Laws barring discrimination in federally assisted programs usually do not

cover employment by the program, unless: (1) a main purpose of the operation is to provide employment; (2) discrimination in employment could cause

discrimination in benefits or services; or (3) an allegation of disability discrimination is made.

In the event that employment is covered, you should file such a complaint

with the federal agency funding the program. Also, job discrimination is covered by other laws, and complaints should also be filed as described in the

employment section of this publication. See page 15.

Laws barring discrimination in federally assisted programs are normally

enforced by the agency that provides the assistance. If a recipient of federal

funds is found to be discriminating and refuses to come into compliance with
33

the law, the federal agency may terminate the funding to that recipient or

refer the case to the Department of Justice for possible litigation.

Complaints alleging discrimination in federally assisted programs should

generally be filed with the appropriate federal agency within 180 days of the

alleged discriminatory act. However, some agencies allow more time to file a

complaint, while others allow as few as 90 days. You should check with the

appropriate agency as quickly as possible if you believe you have been discriminated against. If you do not know which federal agency funds the program, but you believe it probably receives federal assistance, you may file

with the Coordination and Review Section of the Department of Justice

(see page 41). That office will refer your complaint to the appropriate federal

agency.

Information on where to file complaints about federally assisted education,

employment, housing, and law enforcement programs is contained in other

sections of chapter 3. Programs in agriculture, health and welfare, recreation, transportation, environmental control, and other fields are covered in

this section.

Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture handles complaints alleging discrimination

in agricultural and rural programs. Some complaints that should be filed

with the Department of Agriculture are:

 discrimination in Extension Programs, such as in 4-H club participation;

 discrimination in the Food Stamp Program, such as discrimination in

distribution of food stamp benefits;

 discrimination in the Rural Rental Housing Program, such as biased

eviction from a rural rental housing (apartment-style) complex because

of lease violations; and

 discrimination in Rural Utility Programs, such as in providing telephone, electric, or waste water facilities.

All of these programs are covered by laws or regulations prohibiting discrimination based on race, national origin, color, age, or disability. Housing

programs are also covered by laws or regulations that prohibit discrimination

based on marital/family status and religion.

If you believe you have been discriminated against by one of the above

programs or by any other program that receives assistance from the Department of Agriculture, send your complaint to:
34

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Director, Office of Adjudication and Compliance

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250-9410(202) 260-1026

TDD: (202) 401-0216

(866) 632-9992

Fax: (202) 690-5686

www.usda.gov/cr

Department of Energy

To conserve needed energy and aid those persons least able to afford

higher utility costs, the Department of Energy’s weatherization assistance

program makes funds available to states, local governments, community

action agencies, and, in certain instances, Native American tribal organizations to insulate the dwellings of low-income persons, especially the elderly

and disabled. All low-income households are eligible to receive this assistance, which includes the making of furnace efficiency modifications and the

installation of weatherization materials such as ceiling insulation, caulking,

weather stripping, and storm windows.

If you think you have been discriminated against by a state or local government or by a community action agency in trying to get assistance under

the weatherization program, write to:

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Civil Rights

1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 5B168

Washington, DC 20585

(202) 586-2218

(800) 424-9246

Fax: (202) 586-0888

www.doe.gov

Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency provides financial assistance to

state and local governments, tribal governments, and local education programs (this means any educational program or activity, not only those conducted by a formal educational institution) that deal, among others, with:

 pollution control and prevention;

 the development of municipal wastewater treatment facilities;

 the removal of asbestos from schools; or

 hazardous waste site identification, health risk assessment, and cleanup.
35

Allegations that residents of predominantly minority and low-income communities bear a disproportionate share of environmentally related health

risks are investigated by the agency’s external compliance program, which is

managed in collaboration with the agency’s Office of Environmental Justice.

If you think that you have been discriminated against in programs funded

by the EPA write to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Civil Rights

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 2540

Washington, DC 20460

(202) 564-7272

(800) 424-9346

TTY: (202) 260-4565

Fax: (202) 501-1836

www.epa.gov

Department of Health and Human Services

Many institutions and people receive funding from the Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS). Among them are:

 hospitals;

 nursing homes and extended care facilities;

 family health centers and clinics;

 alcohol and drug treatment centers;

 community mental health centers;

 physicians and other health professionals in private practice with patients assisted by Medicaid;

 state agencies responsible for administering health care;

 state and local public assistance agencies;

 day care centers;

 adoption agencies;
36

 foster care homes;

 senior citizen centers; and

 nutrition programs.

If you think you have been discriminated against by an entity that receives

funds from HHS, send the complaint to a Regional Manager of the Office for

Civil Rights listed on page 56 or to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Director, Office for Civil Rights

200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 509F

Washington, DC 20201

(202) 619-0403

Voice hot line: (202) 863-0100

TTY: (202) 863-0101

Voice toll-free: (800) 368-1019

TTY toll-free: (800) 537-7697

Fax: (202) 619-3818

www.hhs.gov/ocr

Department of the Interior

The Department of the Interior provides funding for natural resource,

recreation, and wildlife programs. Through its National Park Service, the Department provides funds to:

 states for park acquisition and outdoor public recreation projects;

 states to expand the National Register of Historic Places and for the

identification, evaluation, and protection of historic properties;

 the National Trust for Historic Preservation for its activities; and

 eligible cities and counties for the rehabilitation of recreation areas and

facilities, demonstration of innovative approaches to park management

and recreation opportunities, and for recreation planning.

If you think that you have, or your community has been discriminated

against in the receipt of any of these National Park Service funds, contact:
37

U.S. Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Office of Equal Opportunity

1201 I Street, NW

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 354-1852

Fax: (202) 321-1449

www.doi.gov

The Fish and Wildlife Service provides federal financial assistance for:

 projects aimed at restoring and managing the sport fish population or

improving sport fishing; and

 state fish and wildlife agencies to restore or manage wildlife populations

and for hunter-safety programs.

If you think you have, or your community has been discriminated against

in Fish and Wildlife Service programs, write to:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Programs

Federally Assisted and Conducted Programs

Webb Building

4040 North Fairfax Drive, Room 300

Arlington, VA 22203

(703) 358-1724

TTY: (703) 358-2549

Fax: (703) 358-2030

Complaints regarding all other programs funded by the Department of the

Interior should be sent to:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Office of Equal Opportunity

Federal Financial Assistance Programs

Interior Building

1849 C Street, NW, Room MS5214

Washington, DC 20240

(202) 208-5694

TTY: (202) 208-5998

Fax: (202) 208-6112
38

Department of Transportation

Programs funded by the Department of Transportation (DOT) are prohibited from discriminating on the bases of race, color, national origin, sex,

disability, age, and low-income status. If you believe that an entity which receives funds from DOT, or an entity involved in transportation under the

Americans with Disabilities Act, is discriminating in providing or denying a

service, write to:

U.S. Department of Transportation

Departmental Office of Civil Rights

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Room W35-208

Washington, DC 20590

(202) 366-4648

TTY: (202) 366-5273

Fax: (202) 366-9371

www.dot.gov/ost/docr

You may also write to the appropriate operating administration’s Office of

Civil Rights listed below.

For highways, curb cuts, parking for people with disabilities, write to:

Federal Highway Administration

Office of Civil Rights

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Room ES-101

Washington, DC 20590

(202) 366-0693

TTY: (202) 366-5751

Fax: (202) 366-1599

www.dot.gov

For railroads and AMTRAK, write to:

Federal Railroad Administration

Office of Civil Rights, ROA-10

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

(202) 493-6010

TTY: (202) 493-6488

Fax: (202) 493-6009

For public surface transportation such as buses, paratransit vehicles, and

subways, write to:
39

Federal Transit Administration

Office of Civil Rights

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Stop3/E54-427

Washington, DC 20590

(202) 366-4018

TDD: (202) 366-0153

TTY: (800) 877-8339

Fax: 202-366-3475

www.fta.dot.gov/index.html

For airline disputes, write to:

Aviation Consumer Protection Division

Office of Aviation Enforcement Proceedings, C-75

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20590

(202) 366-2220

TTY: (202) 366-0511

www.airconsumer.ost.dot.gov

For businesses serving the public on airport property, write to:

Federal Aviation Administration

Assistant Administrator for Civil Rights, ACR-1

800 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 1030

Washington, DC 20591

(202) 267-3254

Fax: (202) 267-5565

www.dot.gov

For driver’s licensing and motor vehicle bureaus, write to:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Office of Civil Rights, NOA-20

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Room W43-324

Washington, DC 20590

(202) 366-6795

TTY: (800) 877-0996

Fax: (202) 366-3475

www.dot.gov
40

For ports, ships, and their certification and licensing, write to:

U.S. Coast Guard

Office of Civil Rights, G-H

2100 Second Street, SW, Room 2400

Washington, DC 20593

(202) 267-1562

Fax: (202) 267-4282

www.uscg.mil

If you think you have been discriminated against by a program operated

under a community development grant, write to the appropriate area office of

the Department of Housing and Urban Development listed in your telephone

book. You may also call one of the telephone numbers listed on page 28.

If you think you have been discriminated against by the National Guard, the

Civilian Health and Medical Programs of the Uniformed Services

(CHAMPUS), or by another defense program, such as a program of the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers or of the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency,

write to:

U.S. Department of Defense

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Equal Opportunity

4000 Defense, The Pentagon, Room 3A272

Washington, DC 20301-4000

(703) 693-0105

Fax: (703) 697-7534

www.dtic.mil

If you think you have been discriminated against by any program funded

or assisted by the Department of Commerce, write to:

U.S. Department of Commerce

Office of Civil Rights

Herbert C. Hoover Building

14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 6012

Washington, DC 20230

(202) 482-5691

TTY: (202) 482-5691

TTY: (800) 877-8339

Fax: (202) 482-5375

www.osec.doc.gov/ocr

If you think you have been discriminated against by a company that receives or dispenses Small Business Administration funds, write to:
41

U.S. Small Business Administration

Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Compliance

409 Third Street, SW, Suite 4600

Washington, DC 20416

(202) 205-6750

(800) 827-5722

TTY: (202) 205-7150

Fax: (202) 205-7580

www.sba.gov

Direct discrimination by a federal agency in awarding grants to community

organizations, governments, or others is not necessarily barred by federal

statutes. However, it is prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. Complaints

should be filed with the agency responsible for the discriminatory act; if that

agency does not act, you may have to file a lawsuit to protect your rights.

The Coordination and Review Section of the Civil Rights Division of the

Department of Justice serves as the coordinator of enforcement by federal

agencies of all statutes that prohibit discrimination in programs that receive

federal financial assistance. If you think you have been discriminated against

by an agency that receives federal assistance and you don’t know which

agency to contact, write to the Coordination and Review Section at the address below:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Coordination and Review Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 307-2222

TTY: (202) 307-2678

Fax: (202) 307-0595

www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/index.htm

Public Accommodations and Facilities

Federal law prohibits privately owned facilities that offer food, lodging, gasoline or entertainment to the public from discriminating on the basis of race, color,

religion, or national origin. If you think that you have been discriminated against in

using such a facility, you may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the

Department of Justice, or with the United States attorney in your area. You may

also file suit in the U.S. district court.

In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on

the basis of disability in a wide range of places of public accommodation,

including facilities that offer lodging, food, entertainment, sales or rental services, health care and other professional services, or recreation. If you feel that

a place of public accommodation has discriminated against you on the basis

of your disability, you should follow the procedures addressed on page 4.
42

There are also state laws that broadly prohibit discrimination on the bases

of race, color, religion, national origin, and disability in places of public accommodation. To determine whether your state has such a law, you should

contact your state or local human rights agency, or your state attorney general’s office.

Public facilities such as courthouses, jails, hospitals, parks, and other facilities owned and operated by state and local government entities cannot

discriminate in their services because of race, color, religion, national origin,

or disability. If you think a public facility has discriminated against you because of race, color, religion, or national origin, you may file suit in the U.S.

district court or file a complaint with the nearest U.S. Attorney’s Office (see

page 79).

People with disabilities cannot be discriminated against or excluded from

services, programs, or activities offered by state or local governments. All

public transportation systems must be accessible to people with disabilities,

regardless of whether the system receives federal financial assistance.

State and local governments must eliminate any eligibility criteria for participation in programs, activities, and services that screen out or tend to

screen out persons with disabilities, unless the government can establish

that the requirements are necessary for the provision of the service, program, or activity. In addition, public facilities must ensure that individuals with

disabilities are not excluded from services, programs, or activities because

buildings are inaccessible.

State and local agencies that provide emergency telephone services must

provide “direct access” to individuals who rely on TTY or computer modems

for telephone communication. Companies offering telephone services to the

general public must offer telephone relay services to individuals who use

TTYs or similar devices.

Intrastate complaints should be filed with that state. Interstate complaints

should be filed with the Federal Communications Commission.

Discrimination complaints about public facilities (other than Architectural

Barriers Act complaints) should be sent to:

 the federal agency that provides funding to the facility subject to the

complaint;

 the federal agency designated to investigate complaints; or

 the Department of Justice.

Complaints may always be filed with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, which will refer your complaint to the appropriate

agency.

Complaints regarding new construction of, or alterations to buildings or facilities funded by the federal government and subject to the Architectural

Barriers Act of 1968 should be sent to:
43

Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

Office of Compliance and Enforcement

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 1000

Washington, DC 20004-1111

(202) 272-0800

(800) 872-2253

TTY: (202) 272-0082

TTY: (800) 993-2822

Fax: (202) 272-0081

www.access-board.gov

The Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice handles complaints of discrimination based on disability

in places of public accommodation, including all hotels, restaurants, retail

stores, theaters, health care facilities, convention centers, parks, and places

of recreation. To file a complaint of discrimination based on disability, call

(800) 514-0301 and send your complaint to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Disability Rights Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 307-2227

TTY: (800) 514-0383

Fax: (202) 307-1198

www.usdoj.gov

If the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division believes that

there is a pattern or practice of discrimination, or the complaint raises an

issue of general public importance, it may attempt to negotiate a settlement

of the matter, or bring an action in U.S. district court. Any such action would

be taken on behalf of the United States. You also have the option of filing

your own lawsuit in U.S. district court.

Voting

Federal laws prohibit discrimination in voting practices on the basis of

race, color, previous condition of servitude, sex, disability, being a member of

a language minority, or age if you are 18 years of age or older. The prohibition

because of race or color is directed against the United States, state and local

governments, and private organizations such as political parties. Your right

to vote in general interest elections cannot be restricted by classifications on

grounds other than residence, age, and citizenship, unless the classification

serves a compelling state interest. General interest elections involve the voting on important governmental functions, such as imposition of property or
44

sales taxes, maintenance of streets, operation of schools (including school

board elections), and providing of sanitation, health, or welfare services.

The imposition by a state or voting district of a voting qualification, a prerequisite for registration or voting, or some other standard, practice, or procedure based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group

that results in a denial of your right to vote or to participate in the processes

leading to a nomination or election is forbidden by federal laws. It is also forbidden to have as a prerequisite for voting that you demonstrate the ability to

read, write, understand, or interpret any matter, demonstrate any educational

achievement or knowledge of any particular subject, or possess good moral

character. If you cannot read or write, voting officials are required to permit

you to receive assistance from a person of your choice so that you can vote.

States may require you to provide some information, including identification information such as race, in order to determine your eligibility to vote and

prevent voter fraud. A state may take away your right to vote if you are a

convicted felon, but only as long as the purpose of the rule is not to disenfranchise you as a member of a minority group.

The federal government requires that a voter registration application be

provided simultaneously with an application for, or renewal of, a driver’s license or other personal identification document issued by a state motor vehicle

authority. States are also required to provide registration materials by mail and

in all public libraries, public schools, unemployment offices, Armed Forces recruitment offices, state offices that provide public assistance, and state-funded

programs primarily engaged in providing services to those with disabilities.

A federal write-in absentee ballot is provided to overseas citizens who do

not receive a regular ballot from a state or territory if the request was received at least 30 days before the election.

If you are a member of a language minority and unable to participate effectively in English language elections, your state or voting district must provide you with registration and voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance,

and other materials and information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in English and in your language if your county has been determined to satisfy criteria contained in the minority language provisions of the

Voting Rights Act.

As a safeguard against discrimination, jurisdictions covered under the

special provisions of the Voting Rights Act must seek approval from either

the Attorney General or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

before making changes in voting practices or procedures. Also, the Attorney

General is authorized to request that federal observers be sent to such jurisdictions to monitor polling place activities on Election Day.

If you think you were discriminated against when you tried to vote or register to vote, immediately complain to local voting officials, and contact the nearest United States Attorney’s Office (see page 79) or write to the Voting

Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice at the

address below. You should also complain if you were discriminated against

in campaigning for office, or when you took part in a political meeting, signed
45

up other voters, or served as an election official or poll watcher, or if you

think a change in local voting laws has a discriminatory purpose or effect.

The Voting Section also safeguards the right to vote of the disabled and illiterate persons, overseas citizens, persons who change their residence

shortly before a presidential election, and persons 18 or older discriminated

against because of their age. The U.S. Attorney General may bring a civil

action in federal district court to enforce your right to vote. As a private individual, you may also bring a civil action to remedy discriminatory behavior.

To file a voting complaint with the Department of Justice, write to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Voting Rights Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-4609

Fax: (202) 307-3961

TTY: (202) 514-0716

www.usdoj.gov/crt/crt-home.html
46

4. Special Circumstances

Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination

The Constitution protects, to some extent, people in the United States who

are not citizens from arbitrary denial of rights.

Discrimination in employment, education, and social services are some

areas of concern to noncitizens.

If you are discriminated against in employment based on citizenship or

immigration status, you may file a complaint at the Office of Special Counsel

for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of

Justice within 180 days of the discriminatory action if you are a:

 legal permanent resident who filed for citizenship within 6 months of

becoming eligible;

 legal temporary resident;

 refugee; or

 asylee.

You are also protected against national origin discrimination, a refusal to

accept proper identity papers or a work authorization or both, or unlawful

retaliation, as in hiring, recruitment, referral for a fee, or discharge.

Citizenship discrimination covers employers with four or more employees.

If you are discriminated against based on nationality (place of birth, appearance, accent, or language), you should send a complaint to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Office of Special Counsel for

Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 616-5594

TTY: (800) 255-8155

Employer hot line: (800) 255-8155

Employee hot line: (800) 255-7688

Fax: (202) 616-5509

www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc
47

The Office of Special Counsel handles cases of discrimination based on citizenship by employers with four or more employees, and national origin discrimination committed by employers with four to 14 employees. Citizenship

discrimination complaints may also be sent to a district office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission listed on page 66. Lack of citizenship discrimination is not always a basis for a complaint of illegal discrimination (see

page 20), since the hiring of illegal aliens is prohibited.

Recent changes in welfare and immigration laws have shifted the administration of need-based social programs and Medicaid to the states. These

changes now allow states to withhold assistance from persons who are not

citizens, subject to certain exemptions for refugees or asylees who have resided in the U.S. for 5 years or less; aliens serving or who have served in the

military (and their spouses and dependent children); and permanent legal

residents who have worked lawfully in the U.S. for at least 10 years. In addition, the new laws make permanent legal residents ineligible to receive food

stamps or SSI assistance, unless they have lawfully worked in the U.S. for at

least 10 years.

To find out what benefits you may be eligible to receive, contact your

state’s Department of Human Services or the proper office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services listed on page 56.

Regardless of citizenship status, if you believe you or your child has been

discriminated against by a public elementary or secondary school, you

should contact the U.S. Department of Education listed on page 13.

Native Americans

Through the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (ICRA), Congress statutorily

imposed on tribal governments provisions similar to those found in the Bill of

Rights. Commonly known as the Indian Bill of Rights, the ICRA provides protections similar, but not identical, to those provided by the U.S. Constitution.

Tribal forums are available to enforce rights created by the ICRA. Federal

courts do not oversee tribal compliance with the ICRA, except in cases of

habeas corpus.

The American Indian Religious Freedom Act declares that a lack of clear

and adequate legal protection for the religious use of peyote by Indians

might serve to stigmatize Indian tribes and cultures and increase the risk that

they would be exposed to discriminatory treatment. On that basis, the act

preserves Indians’ rights to the sacramental use of peyote.

Likewise, a 1994 presidential memorandum recognizes the sacred place

of eagle feathers in Native American culture and religious practices and provides easier access to scarce eagle carcasses and parts.

Civil rights laws passed by Congress protect all citizens, including Native

Americans and non-Native Americans. Therefore, any Native American can

bring a discrimination complaint if he or she suffers discrimination by the

federal, state, or local governments, or individuals on account of race, color,

creed, religion, sex, or national origin with respect to housing, employment,

commercial transactions, or access to public accommodations.
48

If you think you have been discriminated against because you are a Native

American, you should file a complaint with the appropriate agency listed in

chapter 3 of this booklet. In addition, you should write to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-2151

Fax: (202) 514-0293

TTY: (202) 514-0216

www.usdoj.gov/crt

For further information on Department of Justice and federal government

activities affecting Native Americans contact:

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Tribal Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 5634

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-8812

Fax: (202) 514-9078

www.usdoj.gov/otj

Institutionalized Persons

The Department of Justice protects your rights if you are an individual

confined in certain institutions owned or operated by or on behalf of a state

or local government. These institutions include facilities for the mentally ill

and developmentally disabled, nursing homes for the elderly, prisons and

jails, and detention halls for juveniles.

If you have a complaint, send it to:

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Special Litigation Section

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-6255

(877) 218-5228

Fax: (202) 514-6273
49

If you are an individual confined to an institution owned or operated by the

federal government and have a complaint concerning staff misconduct, contact:

Federal Bureau of Prisons

Office of Internal Affairs

320 First Street, NW, Room 600

Washington, DC 20534

(202) 307-3286

Military Personnel

If you are in the U.S. Navy and have a discrimination complaint about an

aspect of military life, it should be handled through the chain of command.

If you are in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps, discrimination complaints

are handled through the chain of command and inspector general channels.

If you are in the U.S. Air Force, a discrimination complaint should first be

taken up with your supervisor or commander. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact the equal opportunity and treatment officer or

the noncommissioned officer at your wing or base social actions office.

If you are in any branch of the armed services and are discriminated

against in off-base housing, contact your post or base housing referral office. If the discriminatory act took place in the United States, you should also

file a compliant with the Department of Housing and Urban Development

(see page 28).
50

5. More Help

Discrimination Law Guides

A Compilation of Civil Rights Laws may be obtained free from:

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Publications Office

624 Ninth Street, NW, Room 600

Washington, DC 20425

(202) 376-8110

(202) 376-8128

TTY: (202) 376-8116

E-mail: publications@usccr.gov

Civil Rights Protection in the United States: Brief Summaries of Constitutional Amendments, Federal Laws and Executive Orders, prepared

by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, may be

obtained by contacting your congressional representative.

To obtain a comprehensive guide to the legal rights of prisoners, request

The Rights of Prisoners, an American Civil Liberties Union handbook, by

writing to:

Southern Illinois University Press

P.O. Box 3697

Carbondale, IL 62902-3697

Legal Action

It may be necessary to bring a lawsuit to enforce your rights. However, if

an administrative procedure has been set up to deal with a particular problem, such as employment discrimination, courts may require you to exhaust

that process before a suit can be filed.

For legal assistance, you may contact your local legal aid society.
51

6. Agency Regional, District, or

Local Offices

BUREAU OF PRISONS REGIONAL OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Regional Director

MID-ATLANTIC REGION

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky,

Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and

West Virginia

302 Sentinel Drive, Suite 200

Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

(301) 317-3100

Fax: (301) 312-3115

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

Area Covered: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,

Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin

Gateway Complex, Inc.

400 State Avenues, Suite 800

Kansas City, KS 66101

(913) 621-3939

Fax: (913) 551-1125

NORTHEAST REGION

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont

U.S. Customs House

Second and Chestnut Streets, 7th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 521-7301

Fax: (215) 521-7476

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Area Covered: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

4211 Cedar Springs Road, Suite 300

Dallas, TX 75219

(214) 224-3389

Fax: (214) 224-3420
52

SOUTHEAST REGION

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico,

South Carolina, and Virgin Islands

3800 Camp Creek Parkway, SW, Building 2000

Atlanta, GA 30331

(678) 686-1200

Fax: (678) 686-1229

WESTERN REGION

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,

Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

7950 Dublin Boulevard, 3rd Floor

Dublin, CA 94568

(925) 803-4700

Fax: (925) 803-4802

COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY DISTRICT OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Compliance Manager

CENTRAL DISTRICT

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, northeast and southeast Iowa, central

Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, eastern Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin

One Financial Plaza

440 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2700

Chicago, IL 60605

(312) 360-8800

TTY: (312) 360-8827

NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT

Area Covered: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, northeast

Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode

Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West

Virginia

340 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10017

(212) 790-4000

TDD: (212) 790-4084

SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Area Covered: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, southern

Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and

West Virginia (southern)

500 N. Akard Street, Suite 1600

Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 720-0656
53

TDD: (214) 720-7086

WESTERN DISTRICT

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii,

Idaho, central and western Iowa, Kansas, western Missouri, Montana,

Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,

Washington, and Wyoming

1225 17th Street, Suite 300

Denver, CO 80202

(720) 475-7600

TDD: (720) 475-7697

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION—OCR ENFORCEMENT OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Office for Civil Rights

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION A

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, and Vermont

33 Arch Street, Suite 900

Boston, MA 02110

(617) 289-0111

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (617) 289-0150

Area Covered: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

32 Old Slip, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10005

(646) 428-3900

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (646) 428-3843

Area Covered: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and

Kentucky

Wanawater Building

100 Pennsylvania Square East, Suite 515

Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 656-8541

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (215) 656-8605

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION B

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 19T70

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-6350

TTY: (877) 521-2172
54

Fax: (404) 562-6455

Area Covered: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico,

Oklahoma, and Texas

1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620

Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 661-9600

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (214) 661-9587

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION C

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

Wisconsin

Citi Group Center

500 Madison Street, Suite 1475

Chicago, IL 60661

(312) 730-1560

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (312) 730-1576

Area Covered: Michigan and Ohio (elementary and secondary schools

only)

Bank One Center

600 Superior Avenue East, Suite 750

Cleveland, OH 44114-2611

(216) 522-4970

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (216) 522-2573

Area Covered: District of Columbia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and

Virginia

1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 316

Washington, DC 20044

(202) 786-0500

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (202) 208-7797

Area Covered: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota

8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037

Kansas City, MO 64114

(816) 268-0550

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (816) 823-1404
55

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION D

Area Covered: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building

1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310

Denver, CO 80204-3582

(303) 844-5695

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (303) 844-4303

Area Covered: California

50 Beale Street, Suite 7200

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 486-5555

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (415) 486-5570

Area Covered: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,

Washington, American Samoa, and Guam

Jackson Federal Building

915 Second Avenue, Room 3310

Seattle, WA 98174-1099

(206) 220-7900

TTY: (877) 521-2172

Fax: (206) 220-7887
56

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

REGIONAL OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Office for Civil Rights

REGION I

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, and Vermont

Government Center

John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Room 1875

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565-1340

TTY: (617) 565-1343

Fax: (617) 565-3809

REGION II

Area Covered: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

Jacob Javits Federal Building

26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3312

New York, NY 10278

(212) 264-3313

TTY: (212) 264-2355

Fax: (212) 264-3039

REGION III

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,

Virginia, and West Virginia

Public Ledger Building

150 South Independence Mall West, Suite 372

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 861-4441

TTY: (215) 861-4440

Fax: (215) 861-4431

REGION IV

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North

Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

Atlanta Federal Center

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 8909

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-7886

TTY: (404) 331-2867

Fax: (404) 562-7881
57

REGION V

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and

Wisconsin

233 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 280

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 886-2359

TTY: (312) 353-5693

Fax: (312) 886-1807

REGION VI

Area Covered: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

1301 Young Street, Suite 1169

Dallas, TX 75202

(214) 767-4056

TTY: (214) 767-8940

Fax: (214) 767-0432

REGION VII

Area Covered: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

Bolling Federal Building

601 East 12th Street, Room 248

Kansas City, MO 64106

(816) 426-6367

TTY: (816) 426-7065

Fax: (816) 426-3686

REGION VIII

Area Covered: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,

and Wyoming

Rogers Federal Office Building

1961 Stout Street, Room 1185

Denver, CO 80294-3538

(303) 844-2024

TTY: (303) 844-3439

Fax: (303) 844-2025

REGION IX

Area Covered: American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and

Nevada

Federal Office Building

50 United Nations Plaza, Room 322

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 437-8310

TTY: (415) 437-8311

Fax: (415) 437-8329
58

REGION X

Area Covered: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

Blanchard Plaza Building

2201 Sixth Avenue

Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 615-2290

TTY: (206) 615-2296

Fax: (206) 615-2297

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

REGIONAL OFFICES FOR FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL

OPPORTUNITY

Address Complaints to: Director

BOSTON REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode

Island, and Vermont

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building

10 Causeway Street, Room 321

Boston, MA 02222

(617) 994-8300

(800) 827-5005

TTY: (617) 565-5453

NEW YORK REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: New York and New Jersey

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Jacob K. Javits Federal Building

26 Federal Plaza

New York, NY 10278-0068

(212) 542-7519

(800) 496-4294

TTY: (212) 264-0927
59

PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,

Virginia, and West Virginia

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Wanamaker Building

100 Penn Square East

Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 861-7647

(888) 799-2085

TTY: (215) 656-3450

ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Alabama, Caribbean, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,

North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Five Points Plaza

40 Marietta Street, 16th Floor

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 331-5140

(800) 440-8091

TTY: (404) 730-2654

CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353-7776 ext. 2453

(800) 765-9372

TTY: (312) 353-7143

FORT WORTH REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

801 Cherry Street, 27th Floor

Fort Worth, TX 76113-2905

(817) 978-5900

(800) 669-9777

TTY: (817) 978-5595
60

KANSAS CITY REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

Fair Housing Enforcement Center

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Gateway Tower II

400 State Avenue, Room 200

Kansas City, KS 66101

(913) 551-6958

(800) 743-5323

TTY: (913) 551-6972

DENVER REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and

Wyoming

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

1670 Broadway

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 672-5437

(800) 877-7353

TTY: (303) 672-5248

SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

600 Harrison Street, 3rd Floor

San Francisco, CA 94107

(415) 489-6524

(800) 347-3739

TTY: (415) 436-6594

SEATTLE REGIONAL OFFICE

Covers: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Area Office: Spokane, and Washington

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

909 First Avenue, Suite 205

Seattle, WA 98104

(206) 220-5170

(800) 877-0246

TTY: (206) 220-5185
61

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REGIONAL OFFICES

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP),

Employment Standards Administration

Address Complaints concerning federal contractors to: Regional

Director, OFCCP/ESA

NORTHEAST REGION

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin

Islands

201 Varick Street, Room 750

New York, NY 10014

(646) 264-3170

Fax: (646) 264-3009

MID-ATLANTIC REGION

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,

Virginia, and West Virginia

Curtis Center

170 South Independence Mall West, Suite 750W

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 861-5765

Fax: (215) 861-5769

SOUTHEAST REGION

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North

Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

Atlanta Federal Center

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 7B75

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 893-4545

Fax: (404) 893-4546

MIDWEST REGION

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,

Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Kluczynski Federal Building

230 South Dearborn Street, Room 570

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 596-7010

Fax: (312) 596-7037
62

SOUTHWEST/ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION

Area Covered: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico,

North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming

Federal Building

525 South Griffin Street, Room 840

Dallas, TX 75202-5007

(972) 850-2550

Fax: (972) 850-2552

PACIFIC REGION

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho,

Nevada, Oregon, and Washington

90 7th Street, Suite 18-30

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 625-7800

Fax: (415) 625-7799

Address Complaints concerning family and medical leave to: Regional

Administrator, Wage and Hour Division/ESA

BOSTON

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, and Vermont

J.F.K. Federal Building, Room E-350

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565-3630

Fax: (617) 562-2999

NEW YORK REGION

Area Covered: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

26 Federal Plaza, Room 3700

New York, NY 10278

(212) 264-8185

Fax: (212) 264-9548

PHILADELPHIA REGION

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,

Virginia, and West Virginia

170 South Independence Mall West, Room 850W

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 861-5800

Fax: (215) 861-5840
63

ATLANTA REGION

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North

Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 6M12

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-2092

Fax: (404) 562-2149

CHICAGO REGION

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and

Wisconsin

230 Dearborn Street, Room 638

Chicago, IL 60604-1591

(312) 353-0301

Fax: (312) 353-4474

DALLAS REGION

Area Covered: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico,

North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming

525 Griffin Street, Room 317

Dallas, TX 75202

(219) 767-8263

Fax: (219) 767-5113

KANSAS CITY REGION

Area Covered: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

1222 Spruce Street, Room 9102B

St. Louis, MO 63103-2830

(314) 539-2706

Fax: (314) 539-2223

SAN FRANCISCO REGION

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada,

Oregon, and Washington

455 Market Street, Suite 800

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 744-5590

Fax: (415) 744-5088
64

Address Complaints concerning state employment services,

unemployment benefits office, and training programs to: Regional

Administrator, Employment and Training Administration

REGION I

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, and Vermont

J.F.K. Federal Building, Room E-350

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565-3630

Fax: (617) 565-2999

REGION II

Area Covered: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

201 Varick Street, Room 755

New York, NY 10014

(212) 337-2139

Fax: (212) 337-2144

REGION III

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,

Virginia, and West Virginia

The Curtis Center

170 South Independence Mall West, Suite 825E

Philadelphia, PA 19106-3315

(215) 861-5200

Fax: (215) 861-5260

REGION IV

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North

Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

61 Forsyth Street, Room 7B75

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-2092

Fax: (404) 562-2149

REGION V

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and

Wisconsin

Kluczynski Building

230 South Dearborn Street, Room 628

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353-0313

Fax: (312) 353-4474
65

REGION VI

Area Covered: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

235 Griffin Street, Room 317

Dallas, TX 75202

(214) 767-8263

Fax: (214) 767-5113

REGION VII

Area Covered: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

City Center Square

1100 Main Street, Suite 1050

Kansas City, MO 64105

(816) 502-9000

Fax: (816) 502-9001

REGION VIII

Area Covered: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,

and Wyoming

1999 Broadway, Room 1780

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 844-1651

REGION IX

Area Covered: Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada

71 Stevenson Street, Suite 830

San Francisco, CA 94119

(415) 975-4610

Fax: (415) 975-4612

REGION X

Area Covered: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

1111 Third Avenue, Suite 815

Seattle, WA 98101-3212

(206) 553-7700

Fax: (206) 553-0098
66

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

DISTRICT OFFICES, FIELD OFFICES, AND AREA OFFICES

Address Complaints to: District, Field, or Area Director, EEOC

ALBUQUERQUE AREA OFFICE

Area Covered: New Mexico

505 Marquette Street, NW, Suite 900

Albuquerque, NM 87102

(505) 248-5201

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (505) 248-5239

ATLANTA DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Georgia

100 Alabama Street, SW, Suite 4R30

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-6800

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (404) 562-6909

BALTIMORE FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Maryland and Virginia

City Crescent Building

10 South Howard Street, 3rd Floor

Baltimore, MD 21201

(410) 962-3932

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (410) 962-4270

BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Alabama and Mississippi

1130 22nd Street, Suite 2000

Birmingham, AL 32205-2397

(205) 731-0082

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (205) 731-2105
67

CHARLOTTE DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia (Southern)

129 West Trade Street, Suite 400

Charlotte, NC 28202

(704) 344-6682

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (704) 344-6734

CHICAGO DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Illinois (Northern)

500 West Madison Street, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60661

(312) 353-2713

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (312) 886-1168

CLEVELAND FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Ohio

1240 E. 9 TH Street, Suite 3001

Cleveland, OH 44199

(216) 522-2001

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (216) 522-7395

DALLAS DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Oklahoma and Texas (Northern)

207 South Houston, 3rd Floor

Dallas, TX 75202-4726

(214) 655-3355

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (214) 655-3433

DENVER FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Colorado and Wyoming

303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 510

Denver, CO 80203-9634

(303) 866-1300

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (303) 566-1085
68

DETROIT FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Michigan

Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building

477 Michigan Avenue, Room 865

Detroit, MI 48226

(313) 226-4600

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (313) 226-4610

HOUSTON DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Texas (Central)

Mickey Leland Federal Building

1919 Smith Street, Suite 600

Houston, TX 77002

(713) 209-3320

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (713) 209-3381

INDIANAPOLIS DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Indiana and Kentucky

101 West Ohio Street, Suite 1900

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 226-7212

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (317) 226-7953

LOS ANGELES DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: California (Southern) and Nevada

Roybal Federal Building

255 East Temple, 4th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 894-1000

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (213) 894-1118

MEMPHIS DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Arkansas and Tennessee

1407 Union Avenue, Suite 621

Memphis, TN 38104

(901) 544-0115

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (901) 544-0111
69

MIAMI DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Florida and Panama Canal Zone

One Biscayne Tower

Two South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2700

Miami, FL 33131

(305) 536-4491

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (305) 808-1855

MILWAUKEE AREA OFFICE

Area Covered: Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin

Henry S. Reuss Federal Plaza

310 West Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800

Milwaukee, WI 53203

(414) 297-1111

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (414) 297-4133

NEW ORLEANS FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Louisiana

1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1900

New Orleans, LA 70113

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (504) 595-2887

NEW YORK DISTRICT FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virgin Islands

33 Whitehall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10004-2112

(212) 336-3620

(800) 669-4000TTY: (800) 669-6820

PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

21 South Fifth Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 440-2600

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (215) 440-2606
70

PHOENIX DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Arizona and Utah

3300 North Central Avenue, Suite 690

Phoenix, AZ 85012

(602) 640-5000

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (602) 640-5071

ST. LOUIS DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois (Alexander, Bond,

Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jackson, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison,

Monroe, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Union, and Washington

Counties)

1222 Spruce, Suite 8100

St. Louis, MO 63103

(314) 539-7800

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (314) 539-7894

SAN ANTONIO FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Texas (Southern)

5410 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 200

San Antonio, TX 78229

(210) 281-7600

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (210) 281-7690

SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT OFFICE

Area Covered: American Samoa, California (Northern), Commonwealth

of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, and Wake Island

350 The Embarcadero, Suite 500

San Francisco, CA 94105

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (415) 625-5609
71

SEATTLE FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

909 First Avenue, Suite 400

Seattle, WA 98104-1061

(206) 220-6883

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (206) 220-6911

WASHINGTON (DC) FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: District of Columbia, and Virginia (Northern)

1400 L Street, NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20005

(800) 669-4000

TTY: (800) 669-6820

Fax: (202) 419-0740

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

REGIONAL OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Regional Director

ATLANTA REGION

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South

Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia

10 Tenth Street, NE, Suite 800

Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 916-2200

(800) 765-3342

BOSTON REGION

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, and Vermont

15 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 100

Braintree, MA 02184

(781) 794-5500

CHICAGO REGION

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and

Wisconsin

500 West Monroe Street, Room 3300

Chicago, IL 60661

(312) 382-6000

Fax: (312) 382-6901
72

DALLAS REGION

Area Covered: Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

1910 Pacific Avenue, 20th Floor

Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 754-0098

(800) 568-9161

KANSAS CITY REGION

Area Covered: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North

Dakota, and South Dakota

2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 1200

Kansas City, MO 64108

(816) 234-8000

(800) 209-7459

MEMPHIS REGION

Area Covered: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee

5100 Poplar Avenue, Suite 1900

Memphis, TN 38137

(901) 685-1603

(800) 210-6354

NEW YORK REGION

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey,

New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

20 Exchange Place, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10005

(917) 320-2500

(800) 334-9593

SAN FRANCISCO REGION

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho,

Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

25 Jessie Street at Ecker Square, Suite 2300

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 846-0160

(800) 756-3558
73

FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS BY DISTRICT

Address Complaints to: Vice President for Community Affairs

FIRST DISTRICT—BOSTON

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

and Rhode Island, Vermont

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

P.O. Box 55882

Boston, MA 02205

(617) 973-3000

SECOND DISTRICT—NEW YORK

Area Covered: Connecticut (Fairfield County), New Jersey (Northern), and

New York

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

33 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10045

(212) 720-5000

THIRD DISTRICT—PHILADELPHIA

Area Covered: Delaware, New Jersey (Southern), and Pennsylvania

(Eastern)

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

10 Independence Mall

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 574-6000

FOURTH DISTRICT—CLEVELAND

Area Covered: Kentucky (Eastern), Ohio, Pennsylvania (Western), and

West Virginia (Northern Panhandle)

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

1455 East Sixth Street

Cleveland, OH 44114

(216) 579-2000

FIFTH DISTRICT—RICHMOND

Area Covered: District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South

Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia (except Northern Panhandle)

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

701 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

(804) 697-8000
74

SIXTH DISTRICT—ATLANTA

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana (Southern),

Mississippi (Southern), and Tennessee (Eastern Two-Thirds)

1000 Peachtree Street, NE

Atlanta, GA 30309-4470

(404) 498-8500

SEVENTH DISTRICT—CHICAGO

Area Covered: Illinois (Northern) Indiana (Northern), Iowa, Michigan,

and Wisconsin (Southern)

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

230 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 322-5322

EIGHTH DISTRICT—ST. LOUIS

Area Covered: Arkansas, Illinois (Southern), Indiana (Southern), Kentucky

(Western), Mississippi (Northern), Missouri (Eastern), and Tennessee

(Western One-Third)

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

411 Locust Street

St. Louis, MO 63102

(314) 444-8444

NINTH DISTRICT—MINNEAPOLIS

Area Covered: Michigan (Upper Peninsula), Minnesota, Montana, North

Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin (Northern)

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

90 Hennepin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 204-5000

TENTH DISTRICT—KANSAS CITY

Area Covered: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri (Western), Nebraska, New

Mexico (Northern), Oklahoma, and Wyoming

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

925 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, MO 64198

(816) 881-2000

ELEVENTH DISTRICT—DALLAS

Area Covered: Louisiana (Northern), New Mexico (Southern), and Texas

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

2200 North Pearl Street

Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 922-6000
75

TWELFTH DISTRICT—SAN FRANCISCO

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada,

Oregon, Utah, and Washington

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

101 Market Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Mail Address: P.O. Box 7702

San Francisco, CA 94120

(415) 974-2000

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Chief Administrative Judge

ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina,

and Tennessee

Peachtree Summit Federal Building

401 West Peachtree Street, NW, 10th Floor

Atlanta, GA 30308-3519

(404) 730-2755

Fax: (404) 730-2767

CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Illinois (all locations north of Springfield), Indiana,

Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Kluczynski Federal Building

230 South Dearborn Street, Suite 3100

Chicago, IL 60604-1669

(312) 353-2923

Fax: (312) 886-4231

DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas

Earl Cabell Federal Building

1100 Commerce Street, Room 620

Dallas, TX 75242-9979

(214) 767-0555

Fax: (214) 767-0102
76

DENVER FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas (except Kansas City, KS),

Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,

and Wyoming

165 South Union Boulevard, Suite 318

Lakewood, CO 80228

(303) 969-5101

Fax: (303) 969-5109

PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Delaware; Maryland (Baltimore City and Alleghany, Anne

Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles,

Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset,

St. Mary's, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties);

New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,

Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean,

Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties);

Pennsylvania; and West Virginia

U.S. Customs House

200 Chestnut Street, Room 501

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2987

(215) 597-9960

Fax: (215) 597-3456

BOSTON FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

Rhode Island, and Vermont

99 Summer Street, Suite 1810

Boston, MA 02110-1200

(617) 424-5700

Fax: (617) 424-5708

NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union

Counties), New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

Jacob K. Javits Federal Building

26 Federal Plaza, Room 3137A

New York, NY 10278-0022

(212) 264-9372

Fax: (212) 264-1417
77

SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: California and Nevada

250 Montgomery Street, Suite 400

San Francisco, CA 94104-3401

(415) 705-2935

Fax: (415) 705-2945

SEATTLE FIELD OFFICE

Area Covered: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Pacific overseas areas,

and Washington

Jackson Federal Building

915 Second Avenue, Room 1840

Seattle, WA 98174-1056

(206) 220-7975

Fax: (206) 220-7982

WASHINGTON REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: District of Columbia, Maryland (Montgomery and Prince

Georges Counties), North Carolina, and Virginia

1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 205

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 756-6250

Fax: (703) 756-7112

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION REGIONAL OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Regional Director

REGION I—ALBANY

Area Covered: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont

9 Washington Square

Washington Avenue Extension

Albany, NY 12205

(518) 862-7400

Fax: (518) 862-7420

REGION II—CAPITAL

Area Covered: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey,

Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia

1775 Duke Street, Suite 4206

Alexandria, VA 22314-3437

(703) 519-4600

Fax: (703) 519-4620
78

REGION III—ATLANTA

Area Covered: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana,

Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee,

and Virgin Islands

7000 Central Parkway, Suite 1600

Atlanta, GA 30328

(678) 443-3000

Fax: (678) 443-3020

REGION IV—AUSTIN

Area Covered: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,

Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma,

South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin

4807 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 5200

Austin, TX 78759

(512) 342-5600

Fax: (512) 342-5620

REGION V—TEMPE

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii,

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and

Wyoming

1230 W, Washington Street, Suite 301

Tempe, AZ 85281

(602) 302-6000

Fax: (602) 302-6024

OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION REGIONAL OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Consumer Affairs

NORTHEAST REGION

Area Covered: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,

Vermont, and West Virginia

Harborside Financial Center

Plaza 5, Suite 1600

Jersey City, NJ 07311

(201) 413-1000

(800) 523-2181

Fax: (201) 413-7541
79

SOUTHEAST REGION

Area Covered: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,

Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee,

Virginia, and Virgin Islands

PO Box 105217

Atlanta, GA 30348-5217

(404) 888-0771

Fax: (404) 888-8599

CENTRAL REGION

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin

One South Wacker Drive, Suite 2000

Chicago, IL 60606

(312) 917-5000

MIDWEST REGION

Area Covered: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,

Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Mexico,

Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas

225 East John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 500

Irving, TX 75062-2326

(972) 277-9500

(972) 277-9565 (Spanish)

Fax: (972) 277-9563

WEST REGION

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii,

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

P.O. Box 7165

San Francisco, CA 94120

(650) 746-7000

(650) 746-7097 (Spanish)

Fax: (650) 746-7001

UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS’ OFFICES

Address Complaints to: United States Attorney

ALABAMA—MIDDLE DISTRICT

131 Clay Street

Montgomery, AL 36104

(334) 223-7280

Fax: (334) 223-7560
80

ALABAMA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

Vance Federal Building

1801 Fourth Avenue, North

Birmingham, AL 35203

(205) 244-2001

Fax: (205) 244-2171

ALABAMA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Riverview Plaza

63 South Royal Street, Suite 600

Mobile, AL 36602

(251) 441-5845

Fax: (251) 441-5277

ALASKA

Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse

222 West Seventh Avenue, #9, Room 253

Anchorage, AK 99513-7567

(907) 271-5071

Fax: (907) 271-3224

ARIZONA

Two Renaissance Square

40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200

Phoenix, AZ 85004-4408

(602) 514-7500

Fax: (602) 514-7693

ARKANSAS—EASTERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 1229

Little Rock, AR 72203

(501) 340-2600

Fax: (501) 340-2728

ARKANSAS—WESTERN DISTRICT

414 Parker Street

Fort Smith, AR 72901

(479) 783-5125

Fax: (501) 783-2442

CALIFORNIA—CENTRAL DISTRICT

1200 U.S. Courthouse

312 North Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 894-2434

Fax: (213) 894-0141
81

CALIFORNIA—EASTERN DISTRICT

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 554-2700

Fax: (916) 554-2900

CALIFORNIA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

U.S. Courthouse

450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36055

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 436-7200

Fax: (415) 436-7234

CALIFORNIA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Federal Office Building

880 Front Street, Room 6293

San Diego, CA 92101-8893

(619) 557-5610

Fax: (619) 557-5782

COLORADO

Seventeenth Street Plaza

1225 17th Street, Suite 700

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 454-0100

Fax: (303) 454-0409

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Financial Center

157 Church Street, 23rd Floor

New Haven, CT 06510

(203) 821-3700

Fax: (203) 773-5376

DELAWARE

P.O. Box 2046

Wilmington, Delaware 19899-2046

(302) 573-6277

Fax: (302) 573-6220

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Judiciary Center Building

555 Fourth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20530

(202) 514-7566

Fax: (202) 307-3569
82

FLORIDA—MIDDLE DISTRICT

Robert Timberlake Federal Building

400 North Tampa Street, Suite 3200

Tampa, FL 33602

(813) 274-6000

Fax: (813) 274-6246

FLORIDA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

111 North Adams Street, Suite 400

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(850) 942-8430

Fax: (850) 942-9577

FLORIDA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Federal Justice Building

99 Northeast Fourth Street

Miami, FL 33132

(305) 961-9000

Fax: (305) 530-7087

GEORGIA—MIDDLE DISTRICT

300 Mulberry Street, 400

Macon, GA 31201

(478) 752-3511

Fax: (478) 621-2604

GEORGIA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

600 US Courthouse

75 Spring Street, SW, Suite 1800

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 581-6000

Fax: (404) 581-6181

GEORGIA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 8970

Savannah, GA 31412

(912) 652-4422

Fax: (912) 652-4388

GUAM

Sirena Plaza

108 Hernan Cortez, Suite 500

Hagatna, Guam 96910

(671) 472-7332

Fax: (671) 472-7334
83

HAWAII

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building

300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 6-100

Honolulu, HI 96850

(808) 541-2850

Fax: (808) 541-2958

IDAHO

Washington Group Plaza

800 Park Boulevard, Suite 600

Boise, ID 83712

(208) 334-1211

Fax: (208) 334-1413

ILLINOIS—CENTRAL DISTRICT

318 South Sixth Street

Springfield, IL 62701

(217) 492-4450

Fax: (217) 492-4512

ILLINOIS—NORTHERN DISTRICT

Dirksen Federal Building

219 South Dearborn Street, 5th Floor

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353-5300

Fax: (312) 353-2067

ILLINOIS—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

9 Executive Drive, Suite 300

Fairview Heights, IL 62208

(618) 628-3700

Fax: (618) 628-3730

INDIANA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

5400 Federal Plaza

Hammond, IN 46320

(219) 937-5500

Fax: (219) 852-2770
84

INDIANA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

10 West Market Street, Suite 2100

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 226-6333

Fax: (317) 226-6125

IOWA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

401 First Street, SE, Suite 400

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

(319) 363-6333

Fax: (319) 363-1990

IOWA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

U.S. Courthouse Annex

110 East Court Avenue, Suite 286

Des Moines, IA 50309

(515) 284-6257

Fax: (515) 284-6288

KANSAS

Epic Center

301 North Main, Suite 1200

Wichita, KS 67202-4812

(316) 269-6481

Fax: (316) 269-6484

KENTUCKY—EASTERN DISTRICT

110 West Vine Street, Room 400

Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 233-2661

Fax: (859) 233-2666

KENTUCKY—WESTERN DISTRICT

Bank of Louisville Building

510 West Broadway, 10th Floor

Louisville, KY 40202

(502) 582-5911

Fax: (502) 582-5097
85

LOUISIANA—EASTERN DISTRICT

500 Poydras Street, Room B210

New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 680-3000

Fax: (504) 589-3594

LOUISIANA—MIDDLE DISTRICT

Russell B. Long Federal Building and Courthouse

777 Florida Street, Room 208

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

(225) 389-0443

Fax: (225) 389-0561

LOUISIANA—WESTERN DISTRICT

300 Fannin Street, Suite 3201

Shreveport, LA 71101-3068

(318) 676-3600

Fax: (318) 676-3641

MAINE

East Tower

100 Middle Street, 6th Floor

Portland, ME 04101

(207) 780-3257

Fax: (207) 780-3304

MARYLAND

36 South Charles Street, 4th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21201

(410) 209-4800

Fax: (410) 962-0122

MASSACHUSETTS

U.S. Courthouse

1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200

Boston, MA 02210

(617) 748-3100

Fax: (617) 748-3953

MICHIGAN—EASTERN DISTRICT

Federal Building

211 West Fort Street, Suite 2001

Detroit, MI 48226

(313) 226-9100

Fax: (313) 226-4609
86

MICHIGAN—WESTERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 208

Grand Rapids, MI 49501

(616) 456-2404

Fax: (616) 456-2408

MINNESOTA

600 U.S. Courthouse

300 South Fourth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55415(612) 664-5600

Fax: (612) 664-5787

MISSISSIPPI—NORTHERN DISTRICT

900 Jefferson Avenue

Oxford, MS 38655

(662) 234-3351

Fax: (662) 234-4818

MISSISSIPPI—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

One Jackson Place

188 East Capitol Street, Suite 500

Jackson, MS 39201

(601) 965-4480

Fax: (601) 965-4409

MISSOURI—EASTERN DISTRICT

U.S. Courthouse

111 South Tenth Street, Room 20.333

St. Louis, MO 63102

(314) 539-2200

Fax: (314) 539-2309

MISSOURI—WESTERN DISTRICT

Charles E. Whitaker Courthouse

400 East Ninth Street, 5th Floor

Kansas City, MO 64106-2149

(816) 426-3122

Fax: (816) 426-4210

MONTANA

P.O. Box 1478

Billings, MT 59103

(406) 657-6101

Fax: (406) 657-6989
87

NEBRASKA

1620 Dodge Street, Suite 1400

Omaha, NE 68102

(402) 661-3700

Fax: (402) 661-3080

NEVADA

333 Las Vegas Boulevard, Suite 5000

Las Vegas, Nevada 89101

(702) 388-6336

Fax: (702) 388-6296

NEW HAMPSHIRE

55 Pleasant Street, Room 352

Concord, NH 03301-3904

(603) 225-1552

Fax: (603) 225-1470

NEW JERSEY

Peter Rodino Federal Building

970 Broad Street, Room 700

Newark, NJ 07102

(973) 645-2700

Fax: (973) 645-2702

NEW MEXICO

P.O. Box 607

Albuquerque, NM 87103

(505) 346-7274

Fax: (505) 346-7296

NEW YORK—EASTERN DISTRICT

U.S. Courthouse

147 Pierrepont Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

(718) 254-7000

Fax: (718) 254-6479
88

NEW YORK—NORTHERN DISTRICT

James M. Hanley Federal Building

100 South Clinton Street, Room 900

Syracuse, NY 13261

(315) 448-0672

Fax: (315) 448-0689

NEW YORK—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

One St. Andrews Plaza

New York, NY 10007

(212) 637-2200

Fax: (212) 637-2611

NEW YORK—WESTERN DISTRICT

138 Delaware Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14202

(716) 843-5700

Fax: (716) 551-3052

NORTH CAROLINA—EASTERN DISTRICT

Federal Building

310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 800

Raleigh, NC 27601-1461

(919) 856-4530

Fax: (919) 856-4487

NORTH CAROLINA—MIDDLE DISTRICT

P.O. Box 1858

Greensboro, NC 27402

(336) 333-5351

Fax: (336) 333-5438

NORTH CAROLINA—WESTERN DISTRICT

Carillon Building

227 West Trade Street, Suite 1650

Charlotte, NC 28202

(704) 344-6222

Fax: (704) 344-6629
89

NORTH DAKOTA

Quentin N. Burdick U.S. Courthouse

655 First Avenue North, Suite 250

Fargo, ND 58102

(701) 297-7400

Fax: (701) 297-7405

OHIO—NORTHERN DISTRICT

801 West Superior Avenue, Suite 400

Cleveland, OH 44113

(216) 622-3600

Fax: (216) 522-3370

OHIO—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Federal Building

200 West Second Street, Suite 400

Dayton, OH 45402

(937) 225-2910

Fax: (937) 225-2564

OKLAHOMA—EASTERN DISTRICT

1200 West Okmulgee Street

Muskogee, OK 74401

(918) 684-5100

Fax: (918) 684-5130

OKLAHOMA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

110 West Seventh Street, Suite 300

Tulsa, OK 74119(918) 382-2700

Fax: (918) 560-7938

OKLAHOMA—WESTERN DISTRICT

First Oklahoma Tower

210 Park Avenue, Suite 400

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

(405) 553-8700

Fax: (405) 553-8888

OREGON

1000 Southwest Third Avenue, Suite 600

Portland, OR 97204

(503) 727-1000

Fax: (503) 727-1117
90

PENNSYLVANIA—EASTERN DISTRICT

Philadelphia Life Building

615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250

Philadelphia, PA 19106-4476

(215) 861-8200

Fax: (215) 861-8609

PENNSYLVANIA—MIDDLE DISTRICT

PO Box 309Scranton, PA 18501

(570) 348-2800

Fax: (570) 348-2816

PENNSYLVANIA—WESTERN DISTRICT

U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Building

700 Grant Street, Room 633

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

(412) 644-3500

Fax: (412) 644-4549

PUERTO RICO

Torre Chardon, Suite 1201

350 Carlos Chardon Avenue

San Juan, PR 00918

(787) 766-5656

Fax: (787) 766-6219

RHODE ISLAND

Fleet Center

50 Kennedy Plaza, 8th Floor

Providence, RI 02903

(401) 709-5000

Fax: (401) 709-5001

SOUTH CAROLINA

First Union Building

1441 Main Street, Suite 500

Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 929-3000

Fax: (803) 254-2912
91

SOUTH DAKOTA

P.O. Box 3303

Sioux Falls, SD 57101-3303

(605) 330-4400

Fax: (605) 330-4410

TENNESSEE—EASTERN DISTRICT

800 Market Street, Suite 211

Knoxville, TN 37902

(865) 545-4167

Fax: (865) 545-4176

TENNESSEE—MIDDLE DISTRICT

110 Ninth Avenue South, Suite A-961

Nashville TN 37203

(615) 736-5151

Fax: (615) 736—5323

TENNESSEE—WESTERN DISTRICT

Davis Federal Building

167 North Main Street, Room 820

Memphis, TN 38103

(901) 544-4231

Fax: (901) 544-4230

TEXAS—EASTERN DISTRICT

350 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 150

Beaumont, TX 77701

(409) 839-2538

Fax: (409) 839-2550

TEXAS—NORTHERN DISTRICT

Earl Cabell Federal Building

1100 Commerce Street, 3rd Floor

Dallas, TX 75242

(214) 659-8600

Fax: (214) 767-2898

TEXAS—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 61129

Houston, TX 77208

(713) 567-9000

Fax: (713) 718-3300
92

TEXAS—WESTERN DISTRICT

601 Northwest Loop 410, Suite 600

San Antonio, TX 78216

(210) 384-7100

Fax: (210) 384-7105

UTAH

185 South State Street, Suite 300

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

(801) 524-5682

Fax: (801) 524-6924

VERMONT

Federal Building

P.O. Box 570

Burlington, VT 05402

(802) 951-6725

Fax: (802) 951-6540

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse

5500 Veterans Drive, Room 260

St. Thomas, VI 00802-6424

(340) 774-5757

Fax: (340) 776-3474

VIRGINIA—EASTERN DISTRICT

2100 Jamieson Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 299-3700

Fax: (703) 299-2584

VIRGINIA—WESTERN DISTRICT

310 First Street, SW, Room 901

Roanoke, VA 24011

(540) 857-2250

Fax: (540) 857-2614

WASHINGTON—EASTERN DISTRICT

Federal Courthouse

P.O. Box 1494

Spokane, WA 99210-1494

(509) 353-2767

Fax: (509) 353-2766
93

WASHINGTON—WESTERN DISTRICT

700 Stewart Street, Suite 5220

Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 553-7970

Fax: (206) 553-0882

WEST VIRGINIA—NORTHERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 591

Wheeling, WV 26003

(304) 234-0100

Fax: (304) 234-0110

WEST VIRGINIA—SOUTHERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 1713

Charleston, WV 25326

(304) 345-2200

Fax: (304) 347-7074

WISCONSIN—EASTERN DISTRICT

Henry S. Reuss Federal Building

517 East Wisconsin Avenue, Room 530

Milwaukee, WI 53202

(414) 297-1700

Fax: (414) 297-1738

WISCONSIN—WESTERN DISTRICT

P.O. Box 1585

Madison, WI 53701-1585

(608) 264-5158

Fax: (608) 264-5172

WYOMING

P.O. Box 668

Cheyenne, WY 82003-0668

(307) 772-2124

Fax: (307) 772-2123
94

U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS REGIONAL OFFICES

Address Complaints to: Regional Director

EASTERN REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine,

Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia

624 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 740

Washington, DC 20425

(202) 376-7533

TTY: (202) 376-8116

Fax: (202) 376-7548

SOUTHERN REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South

Carolina, and Tennessee

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 1840T

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-7000

TTY: (404) 562-7004

Fax: (404) 562-7005

MIDWESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and

Wisconsin

55 West Monroe Street, Suite 410

Chicago, IL 60603

(312) 353-8311

TTY: (312) 353-8362

Fax: (312) 353-8324

CENTRAL REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,

Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma

400 State Avenue, Suite 908

Kansas City, KS 66101

(913) 551-1400

TTY: (913) 551-1414

Fax: (913) 551-1413
95

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South

Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

1961 Stout Street, Suite 240

Denver, CO 80294

(303) 866-1040

TTY: (303) 866-1049

Fax: (303) 866-1050

WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE

Area Covered: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada,

Oregon, Texas, and Washington

300 North Los Angeles Street, Suite 2010

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 894-3437

TTY: (213) 894-3435

Fax: (213) 894-0508
96
U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

Washington, DC 20425

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300

Visit us on the Web:

www.usccr.gov