Enforcement Activities and Results

Compliance and Enforcement

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws that apply to recipients of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex. OCR enforces Federal Health Care Provider Conscience Protection statutes. OCR also enforces Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act as it applies to state and local government health and social service agencies.  To read the enforcement regulations, please OCR Nondiscrimination Laws, Regulations, and Standards.

Civil Rights

While the Office for Civil Rights enforces certain laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination, we generally do not enforce laws and regulations that apply to housing, police or law enforcement, the courts, prisons or employment.  To learn about civil rights enforcement in these and other areas enforced by other agencies, please see our Civil Rights Enforcement Through Other Agencies page.

Learn more about How OCR Enforces Civil Rights Discrimination Laws and Regulations>>

Learn more about What OCR Considers During Intake & Review of a Complaint>>

Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed on July 26, 2013