Community Relations and Outreach

Many entities not only enforce civil rights matters but also conduct community outreach regarding civil rights.  Other entities do not necessarily investigate or enforce civil rights laws, but they nonetheless play an important role in promoting civil rights and community relations in South Carolina.  Some of these include:

CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM

U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Main webpage: https://www.justice.gov/usao/district/sc

Civil Rights program webpages: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/civil-rights

The U.S. States Attorney’s Office has offices in Columbia, Greenville, Florence, and Charleston.  The Office represents the interests of the United States in civil, criminal, and appellate litigation.  The Civil Rights program includes two AUSA’s (Assistant U.S. Attorneys), one for civil and one for criminal civil rights matters.  These two AUSA’s coordinate DOJ Civil Rights in South Carolina.

Contact – Civil Matters

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina
Civil Rights Program
55 Beattie Place, Suite 700
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 282-2100
Email: usasc.civilrights@usdoj.gov

Contact – Criminal Civil Rights Matters

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina
Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator
1441 Main Street, Suite 700
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 929-3000
Email: usasc.civilrights@usdoj.gov

CRS or DOJ COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

Main webpage: https://www.justice.gov/crs

CRS is the DOJ’s "Peacemaker" for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and disability.  CRS is not an investigatory or prosecutorial agency, and it does not have any law enforcement authority.  Rather, the Agency works with all parties, including State and local units of government, private and public organizations, civil rights groups, and community leaders, to uncover the underlying interests of all of those involved in the conflict and facilitates the development of viable, mutual understandings, and solutions to the community's challenges. 

In addition, CRS assists communities in developing local mechanisms and community capacity to prevent tension and violent hate crimes from occurring the future.  All CRS services are provided free of charge to the communities and are confidential.  CRS works in all 50 states and the U.S. territories, and in communities large and small, rural, urban, and suburban.

CRS Regional Office Contacts:  https://www.justice.gov/crs/about-crs/regional-and-field-offices#CentralRegion 

DEVLOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL, SOUTH CAROLINA

Main webpage:  http://www.scddc.state.sc.us/

The Council is federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Act.  It engages in activities that contribute to a coordinated, consumer and family centered and directed, comprehensive system that includes needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  The mission is to provide leadership in planning, funding, and implementing initiatives that lead to improved quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change

GREENVILLE COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS

Main webpage:  https://www.greenvillecounty.org/humanrelations/

Its mission is to improve the quality of life in the County of Greenville by promoting positive community relations and equal opportunity.  The Commission has a variety of programs and initiatives, including but not limited to such topics as: Foreclosure Prevention; Homebuyer Education; Housing Counseling; Fair Housing; Reverse Mortgages; Mediation; and  Police Relations.

Contact:

Greenville County Human Relations
301 University Ridge
Suite 1600
Greenville, SC 29601
Email: YDuckett@greenvillecounty.org
864-467-7095; 864-467-5965 fax

LOCAL CRCS OR COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCILS

A Community Relations Council (CRC) is a formal organization consisting of representatives of all major interests and organized to work together for common purposes. CRCs involve the gathering of individuals who want to resolve problems within a community.  Participation is voluntary, not compulsory, and the council’s common concern goes beyond the ability of any individual citizen, family, or organization to solve the problems of community life.

A local CRC may serve as a forum for the hearing of citizen’s grievances and complaints relative to human relations with a view toward solving problems; a conciliation mechanism between factions experiencing difference, and a bridge between local officials and citizens.  The local council is a conciliatory body resolving tension, conflict, and preventing problems of concern to the community before they become a State or Federal crisis situation requiring official intervention

Contact SCHAC for more information:

Website:  https://schac.sc.gov/about-us