U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **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

            
            
                                              Program Offices
        
                    
  
          Program Offices
      
    
          BJA
          BJS
          NIJ
          OJJDP
          OVC
          SMART
          News Center
        
                    
  
          News Center
      
    
          Blogs
          For Media
          JustGrants News & Updates
          Justice Today Podcast
          JUSTINFO Newsletter
          Monthly Features
          Multimedia
          News Releases
          Publications
          Social Media
          Speeches
          Testimony
          Grants/Funding
        
                    
  
          Grants/Funding
      
    
          Applicant Resources
          Opportunities & Awards
          Recipient Resources
          Become an OJP Peer Reviewer
          For Congress
          NCJRS Library
        
                    
  
          NCJRS Library
      
    
          Library Search
          Tutorial/FAQs
          New Additions
          New OJP Resources
          OJP Publications
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Civil Rights
          Community Violence Intervention
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Drugs & Substance Use
          Forensic Sciences
          Justice System
          Juvenile Justice
          Law Enforcement
          Mental Health
          Research, Statistics & Evaluation
          Sex Offender Management
          Sexual Assault Awareness
          Tribal Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Training
        
                    
  
          Training
      
    
          Justice Events
          Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC)
          Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC)

                            
                                About Us
          Contact Us
          Careers
          Subscribe
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            About Us
                            Offices
 EEO Complaint Process Information Stage

You have the right to initiate contact with an EEO Counselor within **45 calendar days** of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, or in the case of a personnel action, with 45 calendar days of the effective date of the action.

The Counselor will advise you of your rights and responsibilities, assist you in identifying your claim, offer Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and attempt resolution (within no more than **90 calendar days**, unless extended, or if ADR is chosen). If informal resolution is not possible, you will be provided with a written Notice of Your Right to File a Discrimination Complaint.

Formal Stage

You have **15 calendar days** after receipt of the Notice to file a formal complaint with the EEO Office. Your complaint must be specific and limited to those matters that you previously discussed with the EEO Counselor.

You will receive written acknowledgement of the EEO Office's receipt of your formal complaint. You will be notified of the claim (s) accepted for investigation. If your complaint is accepted for investigation, the EEO Office will conduct an impartial investigation.

The Office of Justice Programs has the following responsibilities: to ensure a through and fair investigation is conducted and completed within **180 calendar days**, to encourage settlement attempts; and to provide you with a copy of the final investigative report and your notice of rights.

You have **30 calendar days** after receipt of the investigative report and your rights to request an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hearing or an immediate final agency decision (FAD) by the Complaint Adjudication Office (CAO), Department of Justice. If you fail to respond to your notice of rights or request an immediate FAD, the EEO Office will forward your case to the CAO for issuance of a FAD, which will be based on their review of the investigative report and complaint file.

If you request a hearing and decision from the EEOC, and Administrative Judge (AJ) will oversee discovery, conduct a hearing, and issue a decision. If a finding of discrimination is made, the AJ will order an appropriate remedy. The judge must complete this process within **180 Calendar days** for receipt of your request for a hearing.

After an AJ's decision, the CAO has **40 calendar days** to take final action on the complaint by issuing a final order (FO) which will notify you whether the agency will fully implement the AJ's decision or will appeal the decision to the EEOC.

After you receive the FO, you may appeal to the EEOC's Office of Federal Operations within 30 calendar days of receipt. You may also file a civil action in a U.S. District Court within **90 calendar days** of your receipt of the FO. In addition, you also have the option of filing a civil action in a U.S. District Court at any point beyond 180 calendar days of filing your formal complaint, as long as there has been no final action or appeal.

Notes

A complainant alleging age discrimination may bypass the administrative complaint process and file a civil action in the U.S. District Court provided you first provide the EEOC with written notice of intent to sue under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Complaints filed on the bases of sexual orientation and parental status will be processed by the Department of Justice through final agency decision. There is no right to a hearing or appeal to the EEOC or to bring an action in U.S. District Court.
  
Date Created: January 8, 2020
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              OAAG
    
      
            
            
            
      BJA
    
      
            
            
            
      BJS
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ
    
      
            
            
            
      OJJDP
    
      
            
            
            
      OVC
    
      
            
            
            
      SMART
    
      
            
            
            
      EEO
    
      
            
            
            
      OA
    
      
            
            
            
      OAAM
    
      
            
            
            
      OCFO
    
      
            
            
            
      OCIO
    
      
            
            
            
      OCR
    
      
            
            
            
      OGC
    
      
            
            
            
      OCOM
 Top

      Office of Justice Programs

        
        
                        MORE TOPICS
                    Archive
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights Complaint
      
    
                  File an EEO Complaint
      
    
                  Find a Career
      
    
                  Lookup OJP Grant Awards
      
    
                  OJP Open Data
      
    
                  State Administering Agencies
      
    
                  Submit an OJP FOIA Request
      
    
                  NEWS CENTER
                    Blogs
      
    
                  Justice Today Podcast
      
    
                  Media Contacts
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  News Releases
      
    
                  Speeches
      
    
                  TestimonyFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov