Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations                  
Civil Rights
  Information for Individuals
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Filing a Complaint
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Information for Providers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Newsroom

              

    



Breadcrumb
    HHS
                              Civil Rights Home
                              For Individuals
                              Civil Rights FAQs
                              303-How does OCR investigate a civil rights complaint


    

    

    Navigate to:
  Civil Rights for Individuals and Advocates
                                            
            
            Race, Color, National Origin
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Disability
                          
            
            Section 504
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Age Discrimination
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Sex Discrimination & Harassment
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Title IX
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Section 1557
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Hill-Burton
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Section 1553
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Special Topics
                          
            
            Reproductive Health Care
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Civil Rights and Opioids
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Child Welfare
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Community Living and Olmstead
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Effective Communication in Hospitals
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Emergency Preparedness and Response
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Health Disparities
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HIV/AIDS
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      National Origin Discrimination
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics Discrimination
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Environmental Justice
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Sex-Based Harassment
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Civil Rights FAQs
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Fact Sheets
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HHS Nondiscrimination NoticeText resize icon

                    




How does OCR investigate a civil rights complaint?








  
  
    

  
      



Once a complaint is received, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) must determine if it has the legal authority to review and investigate the complaint.  OCR’s primary authority is over recipients of federal financial assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Once it is clear that OCR has jurisdiction to handle your complaint, the investigator will gather information through interviewing witnesses, obtaining documentation, and perhaps making site visits. You may be interviewed again as information is gathered.

At the conclusion of an investigation, OCR issues a closure letter, which presents OCR's decision on whether there has been a violation of a federal statute or regulation. If there is a violation finding, the recipient is then allowed a specific time period to correct the violation or enter into an agreement with OCR to correct the violation. Corrective action may involve a change in policy or procedure, provision of a service, staff training, or other actions. If a recipient is unwilling to take corrective action to come into compliance, OCR may take certain enforcement actions, including steps to initiate enforcement proceedings. A final decision upholding a finding of a violation may result in the termination of federal financial assistance to the recipient.

                    
  


Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Content last reviewed November 18, 2015Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​