January 2016 - June 2016
 

This is a recap of some of the civil rights activities in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina during this period.

Civil Rights - Criminal Prosecutions

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice enforce several different federal criminal statutes relating to civil rights.  Generally, these statutes relate to Human Trafficking, Hate Crimes, and Color of Law matters.  During this period our office’s criminal civil rights team’s activities included:

Spartanburg Man Pleads Guilty in Human Trafficking Case, January 13, 2016
Please see the separate press release at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/spartanburg-man-pleads-guilty-human-trafficking-case

Eight Indicted in Human Trafficking Conspiracy, January 14, 2016
Please see the separate press release at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/eight-indicted-human-trafficking-conspiracy

Man Pleads Guilty to Lying and Concealment in Connection with the Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting, April 29, 2016
Please see the separate press release at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/man-pleads-guilty-lying-and-concealment-connection-mother-emanuel-ame-church-shooting

Former North Charleston, South Carolina, Police Officer Michael Slager Charged with Federal Civil Rights Offense, May 5, 2016
Please see the separate press release at  https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/former-north-charleston-south-carolina-police-officer-michael-slager-charged-federal

Civil Rights – Affirmative Civil Matters

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice enforce several different federal civil statutes relating to civil rights.   During this period, affirmative-civil rights activities included:
 
ADA Effective Communications Agreement with the City of Columbia Police Department, May 3, 2016
The DOJ reached a Settlement with Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department to ensure Communication Access for Persons with Hearing Disabilities. 
Please see the separate press release at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/justice-department-reaches-settlement-columbia-south-carolina-police-department-ensure

Technical Assistance, Formal Events, Informal Community Outreach

The United States Attorney’s Office conducts ongoing community outreach and technical assistance (subject to resource availability) across the entire spectrum of federal civil rights statutes that our office has jurisdiction to enforce.  We partner, collaborate, and/or coordinate with a variety of entities and groups, including but not limited to federal agencies, state and local entities, and NGO (non-governmental organizations).  We do not participate in partisan, political, lobbying, or religious/sectarian activities.  During this period our office participated in:

Outreach on Career Day with high school age students with disabilities, April 2016
The Office hosted several high school age students in a career day in partnership with the ARC of the Midlands.  The ARC of the Midlands is a community-based organization that advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. 

Other

Training - Basic Civil Rights and Advanced Civil Rights Training, April 2016
One AUSA attended comprehensive week long Affirmative Civil Rights training at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC.

How to contact the U.S. Attorney's Office Civil Rights Team (CRT)
Tel. (803) 929-3000; Email: USASC.CivilRights@usdoj.gov; Website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/civil-rights