What is the "Community Relations Service?"

The Community Relations Service (CRS) is a federal agency that is a part of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). CRS was created by Title V of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to assist local communities in the prevention and resolution of serious racial and ethnic conflicts. For example, CRS might provide impartial federal mediators to help resolve a "use of excessive force" dispute between a city's police department and a citizen's group. CRS can help school officials, a community, and students to establish dialogues. In fact, most of the work of CRS is done in situations of racial violence or violence involving police or schools.

The stated mission of CRS is to be the DOJ's "peacemaker" for community conflicts and tensions that arise due to differences in race, color, and national origin by opening lines of communication. In seeking to restore racial harmony, CRS attempts to develop viable and mutual understandings and agreements. A neutral entity, CRS does not take sides but, rather, provides professional conciliators and mediators to assist cities and community groups.

Other cost-free services offered by CRS include the training of city and group leaders in conflict resolution skills and the development of ways to prevent and resolve conflicts. The mediation and conciliation services of CRS can be utilized to help prevent or end violence or civil unrest and tensions, such as intervening in organized hate crime activities. CRS has provided conciliators to help mediate in bias-motivated crimes, protests, and attacks on houses of worship. CRS can provide conflict resolution assistance in disputes involving Native American tribes and federal, state, and local government officials. CRS will provide its services when asked; however, local authorities and civic leaders can decline the services at any time.

CRS maintains 20 regional offices and four field offices. Its conciliators do not have law enforcement authority.

CRS guidance and training, including post-September 11th hate crime prevention

In an effort to prevent hate crimes, CRS has provided expert guidance to city officials and civic leaders in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For example, CRS has published documents designed to help schools and police departments prevent hate incidents against Arab-Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs. Among the other CRS publications are brochures detailing "best practices" by police in responding to allegations of excessive force.

CRS offers cultural awareness training seminars and events for law enforcement agencies, government officials, community groups, and the public in its quest to address existing conflicts and to improve race relations. Since September 11th, CRS has organized more than 250 meetings or events designed to address issues involving various ethnic populations that have been--or might be--affected by racial or ethnic tensions.

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