Wisconsin Department of Justice Subgrantee Civil Rights Information

As a condition of the receipt of federal grant funding through the Wisconsin Department of Justice (WisDOJ), subgrantees must comply with civil rights laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination. The following sections provide information and links to websites that will be helpful to WisDOJ subgrantees in complying with these civil rights requirements. In addition, they provide information on certifications subgrantees must complete as a condition of receiving federal grant funding through WisDOJ. 

 

Civil Rights Training Opportunities

The US Department of Justice (US DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has online training videos in the areas of Civil Rights, LEP and EEOP to help you understand your requirements as a subrecipient of these funds through a WisDOJ grant. You can find the training videos at https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/online-training. If you do not find the information you are looking for please contact your WisDOJ program manager for assistance.

 

Civil Rights Laws, Regulations, and Publications

The federal Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) website includes information that will assist subgrantees in complying with civil rights laws and regulations. The site includes information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity Plans, the prohibition against national origin discrimination affecting persons with limited English proficiency, and other civil rights law and regulations:  https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/overview

 

 

The OCR site provides an overview of specific statutes and regulations relating to civil rights and nondiscrimination, including: Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794; Section 901 of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. 1681; Section 303 of the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. 6102; Section 809(c) of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, 34 U.S.C. 10228(c); and Section 1407(e) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, 34 U.S.C. 20110(e). Synopses of these laws and related regulations may be found at  https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/statutes-regulations

 

Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

Courts have interpreted Title VI's prohibition of discrimination on the basis of national origin to include discrimination based on English proficiency. Under Title VI (and the Safe Streets Act), recipients are required to provide LEP individuals with meaningful access to their programs and services. Providing "meaningful access" will generally involve some combination of services for oral interpretation and written translation of vital documents. LEP guidance and requirements for subgrantees of OJP Federal funds can be found at https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/limited-english-proficient-lep.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) and Required Certification Process

An Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) is a workforce report that some organizations must complete as a condition for receiving U.S. Department of Justice funding authorized by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The EEOP's purpose is to ensure that recipients of federal financial assistance are providing equal employment opportunities to men and women regardless of sex, race, or national origin.

 

As a subrecipient of U.S. Department of Justice funding, your organization may be required to submit an EEOP Utilization Report to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. If you are unsure of whether your organization is subject to the Civil Rights requirements of VOCA and the Safe Streets Act, please refer to the EEOP FAQ

 

The EEOP Report Builder can be found at: Civil Rights Office | Data Tools | Office of Justice Programs (ojp.gov).  This tool will allow subrecipients to prepare, but not submit, Verification Forms and Utilization Reports required to satisfy the EEOP condition. Once completed, subrecipients will submit the required forms and reports to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Please contact your grant manager with additional questions.  

 

Not every subgrantee is required to file an EEOP. Subgrantees subject to the authority of the Safe Street Act (as well as recipients of VOCA funds) must develop an EEOP if they meet all of the following criteria:

 

  • The recipient  is a state or local government agency or a business;
  • The recipient has 50 or more employees; and 
  • The recipient has received a single aware of $25,000 or more. 

 

Additional information may be found on the OCR website: https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights-office/equal-employment-opportunity-program-eeop-faqs

 

 

Filing A Civil Rights Complaint

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigates complaints from individuals or groups who believe they have experienced discrimination from an agency that receives funding from the US DOJ. These include the Office of Justice Programs and its components as well as the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office on Violence Against Women. OCR can also investigate agencies that receive US DOJ funding from state and local goverment agencies.

 

Discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or other protected status is counter to the fundamental values of the WisDOJ and prohibited by state and federal law. 

 

If you believe that you have experienced discrimination, you are encouraged to file a civil rights complaint as soon as possible. In most circumstances, you have only one year or less from the date of the incident to do so. 
Complete the Complaint Verification Form and the Identity Release Statement, found at https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/filing-civil-rights-complaint, and submit to:

 

Office for Civil Rights

Office of Justice Programs

U.S. Department of Justice

810 7th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20531