Civil Rights Department (CRD)

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Description

The Civil Rights Department is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. The mission of the CRD is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, businesses, and state-funded programs, and from bias-motivated violence and human trafficking. The CRD is the largest state civil rights agency in the country. It was established by the Legislature in 1959 as the Division of Fair Employment Practices and was initially part of the Department of Industrial Relations. In 1980, it became an independent department, known as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and was charged with enforcing California's comprehensive employment, housing, public accommodations, and public service non-discrimination laws, as well as the state's bias-related hate violence law. In 2022, the department's name was changed to the Civil Rights Department to better reflect our mission of enforcing a broad range of civil rights laws.


Services

File Discrimination Complaint

File Discrimination Complaint via CRD's online system. Please create a user account if this is your first time.

Launch service: File Discrimination Complaint

Report a Hate Incident

All victims and witnesses of hate incidents and hate crimes can report and are eligible for free hotline support services. California vs Hate is not affiliated with law enforcement, and you can report anonymously.

Launch service: Report a Hate Incident

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a person file a complaint of employment discrimination?

To file a complaint of discrimination, go to the CRD Web site home page and click on "File a Pre- Complaint Inquiry." If assistance is required to complete the online Pre-Complaint Inquiry, please call 800-884-1684. The completion and submission of the Pre-Complaint Inquiry will initiate the complaint process.

How long does it take the Department to conduct an investigation?

The Department has up to one year from the date a complaint is filed in which to complete an investigation and file a complaint in civil court if it is justified.

What are the time limits for filing a complaint of employment discrimination?

A complaint of employment discrimination must be filed within one year from the date that the alleged discriminatory act occurred.

Where can I find more FAQs regarding Discrimination Complaints?

Visit the Full FAQ