U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida issued the following announcement on June 17.
United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe today encouraged residents across the Northern District of Florida to utilize a new Department of Justice online portal to report potential violations of individuals’ civil rights. The nationwide Civil Rights Reporting Portal, unveiled this week, 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 properreporting 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 – located at civilrights.justice.gov – will dramatically ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel for civil rights violations. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov. 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 nd pursuing violations, and Keefe’s 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.
Original source can be found here.