Division on Civil Rights

File a Civil Rights Complaint

Learn how to file or respond to a complaint of discrimination, and how to register your organization to receive complaints, through the NJ Bias Investigation Access System (NJBIAS).

Home Appraisal Discrimination

DCR is committed to combating discrimination in home appraisals. Learn more about our initiative to tackle appraisal bias in New Jersey.

Housing Discrimination Protections

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibits discrimination in housing based on actual or perceived protected characteristics. The Fair Chance in Housing Act prohibits landlords from rejecting prospective tenants because of their criminal history except in certain limited circumstances.

Our Resources

Division on Civil Rights Fact Sheets offer brief overviews of different areas covered by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), and the Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA) in 14 different languages. View our library of resources, including fact sheets, reports, model policies, and more.

How to File a Complaint
Click here to learn more about how to file a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights

Recent DCR News

Attorney General Platkin Launches Statewide Campaign to Combat and Raise Public Awareness About Bias Incidents

September 30, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today the launch of No Hate in the Garden State, a statewide campaign to raise public awareness about bias incidents and bias crimes, which target a protected status of the victim such as race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion…

Division on Civil Rights Issues 25 Notices of Violation to Housing Providers for Failing to Comply with the Fair Chance in Housing Act

September 16, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that DCR has issued 25 Notices of Violation to housing providers across the state for allegedly violating New Jersey’s Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA)…

AG Platkin, Division on Civil Rights File Complaint in Superior Court Against Virtua Health for Alleged Discrimination Against Pregnant Patients

September 26, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that they have filed a complaint in Superior Court against Virtual Health, Inc. (Virtua), and the network of hospitals it runs in Voorhees, Mount Holly, and Camden, New Jersey. The complaint alleges that Virtua has discriminated against patients based on pregnancy and sex in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), and that Virtua has violated patients’ fundamental right to privacy and New Jersey state law by not obtaining informed consent prior to subjecting them to mandatory drug testing…

Statement of Attorney General Platkin and DCR Director Iyer on Addressing Bias in K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Universities in New Jersey

September 12, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights, have issued the statement below as students across the state in K-12 schools and on college and university campuses return to school…

DCR Notices

Request for Information

Request for Information for the State of New Jersey, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division on Civil Rights,

Domestic Workers Now Covered by the NJ Law Against Discrimination

As of July 1, 2024, domestic workers are protected from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Examples of domestic workers are housekeepers, in-home caretakers for children, in-home caretakers for elderly people, chefs, and butlers.

The New Jersey Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Act also amends the definition of employer to include any person or entity that provides compensation for the performance of domestic services.

Learn more about worker protections enforced by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development here.

DCR stands with immigrant and refugee communities.
Our division enforces the Law Against Discrimination to protect all New Jersey residents, regardless of immigration status. Learn more here. If you believe you have been subject to discrimination or bias-based harassment within the last 180 days, you can file with our division using our online system: bias.njcivilrights.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Required Posters

On August 1, 2022, DCR adopted new and amended regulations to increase the visibility and effectiveness of posters that the State requires employers, housing providers, and places of public accommodation to display to inform people of their rights under New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and Family Leave Act (FLA). All covered businesses, employers, and housing providers are required by law to display the applicable posters.

If you have prior versions of these posters displayed, please remove them and replace them with the updated posters, which can be found here. Click here to read the regulations and here to read the press release.

DCR Events & Updates

The Impact of Bias on Afro-Latino/e/x Communities in New Jersey

The Impact of Bias on Afro-Latino/e/x Communities in New Jersey explores both the intersectional identities that strengthen these communities as well as the impact of bias and discrimination on community members. A panel of thought leaders will share ideas on how to prevent and address unfair treatment and highlight the cultural identities and strengths of Afro-Latino/e/x backgrounds.

This program will help you understand what you can do to support Latino/e/x communities and create a kinder, fairer New Jersey for all.

Join us for an informative conversation on the intersecting identities of Afro-Latinos.

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 6:30pm – 8pm

Register Here: bit.ly/AfroLatinoRights