Chapter 14 What Agency Am I?

I enforce federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap, religion, and national origin. I enforce laws that prohibit discrimination in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities, voting, and certain federally funded and conducted programs. In addition, I prosecute actions under several criminal civil rights statutes that preserve personal liberties and safety. 

Established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime, I provide funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs. I support training designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals regarding the rights and needs of crime victims.

Created as a result of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, I advance community policing in jurisdictions across the country. I provide grants to tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to hire and train community-policing professionals; acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies; and develop and test innovative policing strategies. 

I handle the Justice Department’s legal and policy issues regarding violence against women. I work closely with components of other federal agencies to implement the mandates of the Violence against Women Act and subsequent legislation.