Civil Rights Enforcement Agencies

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces several Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination against a job applicant or employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination or participated in an employment discrimination investigation. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) works to ensure opportunity for all through the enforcement of Maryland’s laws against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state contracts; provide educational outreach services related to provisions of these laws; and promote and improve civil rights in Maryland.

U.S. Department of Labor has two agencies that deal with monitoring and enforcement of the Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibiting specific types of job discrimination in certain workplaces, the Civil Rights Center and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

US Department of Justice, Educational Opportunities Section is responsible for enforcing the federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion and disability in public schools and institutions of higher learning.