Community Relations Service

 

To provide free Federal conciliation and mediation services to communities in preventing and resolving community tensions, conflicts, and civil disorders arising from actions, policies, and practices that are perceived to be based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. No funds are granted to outside organizations to provide these services. With the passage of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, CRS is authorized to assist communities to prevent and respond to alleged violent hate crimes committed on the basis of actual or gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 16.200 Agency: Department of Justice
Office: Community Relations Service PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES Not Applicable. Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C 2000g et seq.).
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, Public Law 09-111-84, 18 U.S.C 249., Title X, Public Law 88-352, 2000 U.S.C 2000g-1-200g-2. CRS provides services without cost assistance to representatives of groups or communities or Federal, State or local government agencies that seek to resolve, reduce or prevent conflicts related to race, ethnicity, or national origin. CRS does not provide grants to communities for conciliation and mediation assistance programs. CRS does not provide grants to communities, but beneficiaries may include any group, community, or Federal, State or local government agency that experiences tensions involving race, ethnicity, or national origin. No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Parties interested in requesting free conciliation and mediation service may write, phone, or contact in person, headquarters or regional offices. Please see below for contact information. No standard form is used. CRS does not provide grant funds to purchase assistance or to fund community programs. Assistance is provided by direct response from an appropriate agency official to the applicant in the form of conflict prevention and resolution services. CRS will provide on-site services in major racial or ethnic crisis situations within 24 hours from the time when your community notifies CRS or CRS becomes aware of the crisis. In non-crisis situations, CRS will contact you within three days of when your community notifies CRS or CRS becomes aware of the situation to discuss your request for CRS services. Not Applicable. In major racial or ethnic crisis situations, on-site services are provided within 24 hours of notifying CRS. In non-crisis situations, CRS will contact the requestor within 3 days to discuss the request. Since CRS has only a limited number of conciliators to service the entire country, CRS cannot guarantee service delivery. CRS will, however, make every effort to service every request. Applicant can request assistance again. If the agency is not authorized to provide a response, the applicant will be referred to an appropriate agency or resource for assistance. Each request for service is given a separate response by CRS. Not Applicable. The Community Relations Service (CRS) employs conciliation, mediation, technical assistance, and training techniques to provide free services to communities in preventing, reducing, and resolving racial and ethnic conflicts. Through conciliation, CRS facilitates communication among disputing parties. Through mediation, CRS intervenes to promote the settlement of disputes through the terms of an oral or written agreement between the disputing parties. Through technical assistance, CRS provides subject matter expertise to communities by providing such services as: participating in and facilitating community meetings and task forces; and sponsoring, cosponsoring, or making presentations at conferences and forums. CRS conducts training in such areas as community policing, police/community relations, response to hate crimes, and conflict resolution techniques (e.g., law enforcement mediation). CRS also develops resource materials and prepares articles for publication on preventing and resolving racial and ethnic conflicts in communities. Not Applicable. Not Applicable. None. This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. CRS provides continuous service until the conflict is resolved or CRS no longer has jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. 2000g-1. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum. None. For a list of regional and local offices, please either visit http://www.usdoj.gov/crs or call (202) 305-2935. O.Ben Lieu Community Relations Service
600 E Street, NW
Suite 6000, Washington, District of Columbia 20520 Email: Ben.Lieu@usdoj.gov Phone: 202-305-2935 Fax: 202-305-3003 http://www.usdoj.gov/crs . 15-0500-0-1-752. (Salaries) FY 11 $11,456,000; FY 12 est $11,456,000; and FY 13 est $12,036,000 No Data Available. There are no regulations or guidelines for requesting assistance from CRS, except as noted above. Pamphlets and other materials developed by CRS for use by communities include: "Principles of Good Policing: Avoiding Violence Between Police and Citizens"; "Responding to Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents on College/University Campuses"; "Guidelines for Effective Human Relations Commissions"; "Police Use of Excessive Force: A Conciliation Handbook for the Police and the Community"; "Managing Major Public Events: A Planning Guide for Municipal Officials, Law Enforcement, Community Leaders, Organizers, and Promoters"; "Avoiding Racial Conflict: Guide for Municipalities." These publications can be found on CRS' website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crs. Not Applicable.