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

Division on Civil Rights Proposes Changes to its Proposed Disparate Impact Discrimination Rules

November 18, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced that DCR is proposing two changes to its proposed rules governing disparate impact discrimination under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)…

Attorney General Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Finding of Probable Cause Against Housing Provider for Discriminatory Minimum-Income Requirements

November 1, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that DCR has issued a Finding of Probable Cause against a housing provider and a leasing agent for allegedly violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by imposing unduly restrictive minimum-income requirements for an affordable rental unit. The Finding of Probable Cause alleges that the evidence supports a reasonable ground of suspicion that these minimum-income requirements, which result in the exclusion of many households that have an income low enough to qualify for affordable housing, had an unlawful disparate impact based on race and national origin…

Attorney General Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Youth Competition to Combat Bias

November 18, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today the No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition as part of a statewide initiative to eliminate bias and discrimination in New Jersey. The competition, which will be led by DCR and will be coordinated in partnership with the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), is open to middle school and high school students to help empower young people to make changes in their communities…

Attorney General Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Release Report on Unlawful Mortgage Redlining Practices by Republic First Bank in New Jersey

October 29, 2024

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) today issued a report outlining the findings of a multi-year investigation into allegations of unlawful mortgage redlining and discrimination by Republic First Bank. The investigation – initiated by DCR and the Division of Law (DOL) – found that Republic First Bank, doing business as Republic, engaged in a pattern and practice of redlining Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities in New Jersey in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)…

DCR Notices

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

Empowering Workplaces: Legal Protections & Best Practices for Pregnant & Breast/Chestfeeding Employees

This program will inform attendees about workplace accommodations for pregnant and breast/chestfeeding individuals. Learn from subject matter experts from the N.J. Division on Civil Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about the legal protections available under state and federal law, as well as how enforcement agencies address related complaints. In addition, the program will explore best practices for supporting workers who are pregnant or expressing milk.

Date: Dec. 5, 2024
Time: 12:00-1:30pm
Register Here: bit.ly/PregnancyRights