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Community Relations Service
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The Department of Justice enforces the law and defends the interest of the United States, ensuring public safety against threats foreign and domestic; providing Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; seeking just punishment for those guilty of unlawful pursuits; and ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
Program Accomplishments
Each year, CRS is called upon to resolve or prevent racial and ethnic community conflicts throughout the country. CRS usually has an active case load of approximately 1,200 cases each year. Most of CRS' conflict prevention services focused on reducing racial and ethnic tensions between law enforcement and communities across the U.S., preventing racial and ethnic violence in public schools, and resolving community tensions associated with hate crimes.
Uses and Use Restrictions
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
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.
Beneficiary Eligibility
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.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
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.
Award Procedures
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.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title X, Public Law 88-352, 42 U.S.C. 2000g-1-2000g-2.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
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.
Appeals
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.
Renewals
Each request for service is given a separate response by CRS.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
CRS provides continuous service until the conflict is resolved or CRS no longer has jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. 2000g-1.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
None.
Audits
None.
Records
None.
Financial Information
Account Identification
15-0500-0-1-752.
Obigations
(Salaries and expenses) FY 07 est $10,229,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No financial assistance is provided by CRS. Rather, CRS staff provides appropriate services at no cost to the requestor.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
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.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
For a list of regional and local offices, please either visit http://www.usdoj.gov/crs or call (202) 305-2935.
Headquarters Office
For general information, Community Relations Service, Department of Justice, Suite 6000, 600 E St. NW., Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: (202) 305-2935. Use the same number for FTS.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable. CRS does not fund projects. Rather, its staff provide services directly to the public.
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