TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe is encouraging residents across the Northern District of Florida to utilize a new Department of Justice online portal to report potential violations of their civil rights.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the nationwide Civil Rights Reporting Portal is a newly launched initiative.
Authorities say it will make it easier for the public to report civil rights violations by eliminating confusion over how Americans should report violations.
“Until now, there have been more than 30 different pathways for citizens to report suspected civil rights violations, and this new tool will ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe, who oversees activities in the 23 counties of the Northern District of Florida. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding the civil rights of every person, and making it easier for the public to report suspected violations will in turn make it easier for us to pursue cases.”
The Civil Rights Reporting Portal, found at civilrights.justice.gov, aims to ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel for civil rights violations.
In addition, the form is fully accessible to people with disabilities and it is available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
When appropriate, the Civil Rights Division staff will refer complainants to other agencies that are responsible for handling specific types of complaints.
The Department of Justice has an entire division dedicated to defending civil rights and pursuing violations, and Keefe said his office has attorneys working with the Civil Rights Division.
Individuals who believe they are a victim of criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
