United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

Seal of the United States Department of Justice
Division overview
Formed	December 9, 1957 (1957-12-09)
Jurisdiction	United States government agency
Headquarters	Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C., United States
Annual budget	$162 million (2015)
Division executive	Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General
Parent department	U.S. Department of Justice

The Civil Rights Division is a special part of the United States Department of Justice. Its main job is to make sure everyone in the United States is treated fairly. It works to stop discrimination, which means treating someone unfairly because of their race, gender, disability, religion, or where they come from.

This division was created on December 9, 1957. It was set up after a law called the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was passed. This law also created the position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. This person is chosen by the President and approved by the Senate.

What the Civil Rights Division Does

The Civil Rights Division helps protect the rights of all Americans. It makes sure that laws designed to prevent unfair treatment are followed. This includes making sure people can vote, have fair housing, and get equal chances at school and work.

How the Division is Organized

The Civil Rights Division has different sections, each focusing on a specific area of civil rights. The main leader is the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Underneath this leader, there are sections like:

• Appellate Section (handles appeals in court)
• Coordination and Review Section (makes sure things are done correctly)
• Criminal Section (deals with criminal civil rights cases)
• Disability Rights Section (helps people with disabilities)
• Educational Opportunities Section (ensures fair education)
• Employment Litigation Section (works on fair employment)
• Housing and Civil Enforcement Section (deals with fair housing)
• Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (protects immigrant workers)
• Policy & Strategy Section (plans how to achieve goals)
• Special Litigation Section (handles big, important cases)
• Voting Section (protects voting rights)

Laws the Division Enforces

The Civil Rights Division makes sure many important laws are followed. These laws help protect people from discrimination. Some of the key laws include:

• The Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968. These laws made discrimination illegal in many areas of life.
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law helps make sure all citizens can vote, no matter their race.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This law protects people with disabilities from discrimination.
• The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. This law helps fight crimes motivated by hate.
• Laws that protect people in public institutions, like hospitals or care homes, to make sure their rights are respected.
• Laws that protect access to clinics and prevent violence there.
• Laws that deal with police misconduct, ensuring police act fairly.
• Laws that protect religious freedom.
• Laws that prevent discrimination based on national origin or citizenship status in jobs.

The Division also works on criminal cases where people's basic freedoms and safety are threatened.

Leaders of the Civil Rights Division

The person in charge of the Civil Rights Division is called the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. This is a very important job. Many different people have held this position since the division was created.

Drew S. Days III was the first African-American Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

     means the person was an acting Assistant Attorney General, filling in temporarily.