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OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS <br /> Office of Justice Programs <br /> U.S.Department of Justice <br /> 810 7th Street,NW <br /> Washington,DC 20531 <br /> Tel:(202)307-0690 <br /> TTY:(202)307-2027 <br /> E-mail:askOCR@usdoj.gov <br /> Website:www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ocr <br /> August 26,2016 <br /> The Honorable Ray Stephanson <br /> City of Everett <br /> 2930 Wetmore Avenue <br /> Everett,WA 98201 <br /> Dear Mayor Stephanson: <br /> Congratulations on your recent award. In establishing financial assistance programs,Congress linked the receipt of federal funding to <br /> compliance with federal civil rights laws. The Office for Civil Rights(OCR),Office of Justice Programs(OJP),U.S.Department of Justice <br /> (DOJ)is responsible for ensuring that recipients of financial assistance from the OJP,the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services <br /> (COPS),and the Office on Violence Against Women(OVW)comply with the applicable federal civil rights laws. We at the OCR are <br /> available to help you and your organization meet the civil rights requirements that come with DOJ funding. <br /> Ensuring Access to Federally Assisted Programs <br /> Federal laws that apply to recipients of financial assistance from the DOJ prohibit discrimination on the basis of race,color,national origin, <br /> religion,sex,or disability in funded programs or activities,not only in employment but also in the delivery of services or benefits. A federal <br /> law also prohibits recipients from discriminating on the basis of age in the delivery of services or benefits. <br /> In March of 2013,President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The statute amends the Violence <br /> Against Women Act of 1994(VAWA)by including a nondiscrimination grant condition that prohibits discrimination based on actual or <br /> perceived race,color,national origin,religion,sex,disability,sexual orientation,or gender identity. The new nondiscrimination grant <br /> condition applies to certain programs funded after October 1,2013. The OCR and the OVW have developed answers to some frequently <br /> asked questions about this provision to assist recipients of VAWA funds to understand their obligations. The Frequently Asked Questions <br /> are available at http://ojp.gov/about/ocr/vawafaqs.htm. <br /> Enforcing Civil Rights Laws <br /> All recipients of federal financial assistance,regardless of the particular funding source,the amount of the grant award,or the number of <br /> employees in the workforce,are subject to prohibitions against unlawful discrimination. Accordingly,the OCR investigates recipients that <br /> are the subject of discrimination complaints from both individuals and groups. In addition,based on regulatory criteria,the OCR selects a <br /> number of recipients each year for compliance reviews,audits that require recipients to submit data showing that they are providing services <br /> equitably to all segments of their service population and that their employment practices meet equal opportunity standards. <br />