Civil Rights Enforcement

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, in coordination with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, enforces federal civil rights laws throughout the Eastern District of Tennessee. These laws prohibit discrimination, protect the constitutional rights of residents, and affirm equal opportunity for all. The U.S. Attorney’s Office enforces civil rights through civil litigation and criminal prosecution and, in all cases, represents the interests of the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office welcomes information from the public that brings to our attention possible violations of our nation's civil rights laws. Civil rights complaints can be submitted by email, mail, or phone. 

Eastern District of Tennessee
Knoxville Headquarters:
800 Market Street, Suite 211
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

usatne.webmaster@usa.doj.gov

FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES

For information about the civil rights laws we enforce, please click on the following links:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws that prohibit disability discrimination.
• The Fair Housing Act (FHA)
• The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
• The Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA) and other laws that prohibit discrimination in schools.
• Title II of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin in places of public accommodation.
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin by programs that receive federal financial assistance.
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by state and local government employers.
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits discrimination in voting.
• The anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin.
• The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
• The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
• The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA)
• The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and other laws that prohibit law enforcement misconduct.
• The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act

LEGAL RESOURCES

Service Members Toolkit
Sexual Harassment In Housing Toolkit
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) Toolkit
Disability Rights Section/ADA Toolkit