About DCR

Overview of DCR

The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is the state agency charged with enforcing New Jersey’s civil rights laws, including the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJ LAD), the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), and the Fair Chance in Housing Act (NJ FCHA) . The mission of DCR is to protect the people of New Jersey from discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

The LAD, one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country, prohibits discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability and other protected characteristics. The law applies in employment, housing, places of public accommodation (places open to the public, including businesses, restaurants, schools, summer camps, medical providers, government offices and agencies, etc.), credit, and contracting.

DCR has five units that work to prevent, eliminate, and remedy individual and systemic discrimination and bias-based harassment:

• DCR’s Investigations Unit investigates complaints of discrimination and bias-based harassment filed with DCR by members of the public, evaluates parties’ legal claims and defenses, and assists the Director in deciding motions and in reaching ultimate findings in each case;
• DCR’s Affirmative Enforcement Unit undertakes Director-initiated systemic investigations into patterns or practices of discrimination and bias-based harassment;
• DCR’s Policy Unit issues regulations and enforcement guidance, advises on legislation impacting civil rights in New Jersey, and issues policy reports and fact sheets to educate the public about civil rights issues affecting all New Jerseyans;
• DCR’s Community Relations Unit works to prevent acts of discrimination and bias-based harassment through education and community engagement and works directly with impacted communities after civil rights incidents; and
• DCR’s Education and Training Unit proactively educates the public about the Law Against Discrimination and how to recognize and prevent acts of discrimination and bias-based harassment through interactive virtual and in-person trainings.

Anyone who believes their rights under the LAD, NJFLA, or FCHA have been violated may file a complaint with DCR within 180 days of the incident. Click here to learn more about filing a complaint with DCR.

Laws DCR Enforces

The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is the state agency charged with enforcing New Jersey’s civil rights laws, including the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), and the Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA). Please select the links below to access the individual laws:

• NJ Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD): The NJLAD is the nation’s first and most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the nation. The LAD prohibits discrimination and bias-based harassment based on many protected classes in employment, housing and places of public accommodation.
• New Jersey Fair Chance in Housing Act (NJ FCHA): The FCHA bars housing providers from asking about criminal history on housing applications in most instances. The FCHA is the first state law of its kind in the country and is intended to ensure people with past criminal histories have a fair shot at accessing safe and affordable housing.
• New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA): The NJFLA provides job-protected leave for an employee for a state or local government agency, or a company or organization with 30 or more employees worldwide, and who has been employed by the company for at least one year and worked at least 1,000 hours in the past 12 months.

Mission Statement

• The mission of DCR is to: prevent, eliminate and remedy discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation throughout New Jersey.

Vision Statement

• DCR’s vision is: A New Jersey free from discrimination and bias where all people are treated with equal dignity and equal respect and have access to equal opportunity.

Overview of Commission on Civil Rights

• The LAD created the Commission on Civil Rights to “consult with and advise the Attorney General with respect to the work” of the Division on Civil Rights.  Click here to learn more about the Commission and it’s work.