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Civil Rights

Overview

The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), in coordination with the Department of Justice, is charged with enforcing federal civil rights laws throughout the Middle District of Florida. These laws prohibit discrimination, protect the constitutional rights of residents of this District, and ensure equal opportunity for all.

The USAO’s Civil Division enforces civil federal civil rights statutes, such as the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act; laws that protect voting rights, servicemembers’ rights and religious freedom; laws that prohibit patterns and practices of police misconduct; and other federal anti-discrimination laws enforced by the Department of Justice. For more information regarding civil rights statutes and the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts, please visit the homepage for the Civil Rights Division.

The USAO’s Criminal Division works with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to enforce laws pertaining to criminal civil rights matters, including hate crimes, human trafficking and police brutality. To report such a crime, please contact the FBI.

Report a Civil Rights Violation

This office welcomes information from the public that brings to our attention possible violations of our nation's civil rights laws. While the scope of our civil rights practice is broad, the authority of the Department of Justice to investigate and seek relief for individual complaining parties for alleged civil rights violations is limited. We may investigate and seek to remedy alleged discriminatory conduct only where and in the manner specifically authorized by law. This office will review every complaint and, where appropriate, pursue the matter or refer it to another agency or entity.

Please be advised that, while you may believe that your rights were violated, it does not necessarily follow that a civil rights violation has occurred under the law. Please also keep in mind that this office cannot represent you in any matter and that you may need your own attorney. You are further advised that reporting a violation to this office does not meet any legal obligation you might have to timely pursue a complaint with another federal, state, or local agency.

To submit a civil rights violation to the USAO, please click here.

Contact

The District’s main office is located in Tampa, Florida, with branch offices in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, and Orlando.

Civil Rights Hotline: (813) 274-6095

Email: USAFLM.Civil.Rights@usdoj.gov

Mailing Address:
United States Attorney’s Office, MDFL
Attn: Civil Division
400 N. Tampa Street, Suite 3200
Tampa, Florida 33602

News
Special Initiatives
FL Map and DOJ seal
Combatting Redlining Initiative

In October 2021, the Justice Department announced the launch of the department’s Combatting Redlining Initiative. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race or national origin of the people who live in those communities. The Initiative represents the department’s most aggressive and coordinated enforcement effort to address redlining, which is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. 

Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative
Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative

Servicemembers and veterans protect and advance our democracy.

The Department of Justice works to ensure that the rights of the brave men and women of our Nation’s armed forces, and the veterans who have served in the past, are safeguarded from discrimination and unfair treatment.

The mission of the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative is to strengthen and enhance the Department of Justice’s efforts on behalf of servicemembers, veterans, and their families by coordinating and expanding our enforcement, outreach, and training.  

Fair Housing Public Service Announcements