Skip to main content

About CRS

Our Mission: America's Peacemaker

CRS serves as “America’s Peacemaker” for communities facing conflict based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. CRS works toward its mission by providing facilitated dialogue, mediation, training, and consultation to assist these communities to come together, develop solutions to the conflict, and enhance their capacity to independently prevent and resolve future conflict.

All CRS services are confidential and provided on a voluntary basis, free of charge to the communities. CRS is not an investigatory or prosecutorial agency and does not have any law enforcement authority. CRS works with all parties to develop solutions to conflict and serves as a neutral party.
 

Our History

Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 authorized CRS to assist communities facing disputes, disagreements, or difficulties relating to allegations of discriminatory practices based on race, color, or national origin. CRS’s mandate expanded in 2009 under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include working with communities to prevent and respond to alleged hate crimes based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. With its unique mission, CRS is the only federal agency dedicated to assisting state and local governments, private and public organizations, law enforcement agencies, tribal communities, and community groups to resolve conflicts based on these aspects of identity.

Historical Timeline

CRS has a long history of serving as "America's Peacemaker." View our interactive timeline of highlights from CRS's work serving as America's Peacemaker over the years.

President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Getty Images

President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title X of which established CRS.

President Barack Obama stands on stage with Dennis and Judy Shepard, parents of Matthew Shepard, and Louvon Harris and Betty Byrd Boatner, sisters of James Byrd, Jr., during his remarks marking the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, in the East Room of the White House, October 28, 2009.
Getty Images

President Barack Obama signs the Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expanded CRS's mandate.

Our Focus

CRS works with community groups to resolve community conflicts and prevent and respond to alleged hate crimes arising from differences of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. CRS was established by Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its mandate was expanded by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.