Community Relations Service

CRS is a separate unit within DOJ’s Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. For over 60 years, CRS has been “America’s Peacemaker Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, established the Community Relations Service with the mandate to offer “conciliation assistance” to communities where “ disputes, disagreements, or difficulties” threaten “peaceful relations among the citizens of the community involved” regarding “discriminatory practices based on race, color, or national origin.” CRS often responds to communities shaken by mass violence, civil disorder, and other critical incidents and offers neutral and impartial conciliation through a variety of services (i.e., mediation, facilitated dialogues, training, and consultation).

All CRS services are confidential and provided free of charge to the communities that voluntarily request or accept CRS’s assistance. CRS is not an investigatory or prosecutorial agency and has no law enforcement authority. CRS works with all parties to develop solutions to conflict and serves as a neutral, impartial party.