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

DCR provides free and confidential interpretation services.
If you need help, please call 1.833.NJDCR4U (833-653-2748) (voice) or the Relay Service at 711, or email LanguageHelp@njcivilrights.gov.

Recent DCR News

AG Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Finding of Probable Cause Against Housing Provider for Discriminatory Minimum-Income Requirement

March 21, 2025

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) today announced that DCR has issued a Finding of Probable Cause against Highland Living LLC, the owner of an apartment complex in Highland Park, and its leasing agent for allegedly violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by imposing unlawful minimum-income requirements that discriminated against recipients of government assistance…

Attorney General Platkin Issues Multistate Guidance for Schools on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives

March 5, 2025

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in issuing guidance to help K-12 schools, colleges, and universities understand the legality, viability, and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies and practices in education…

AG Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Enforcement Action Against Advance Funding Partners/Same Day Funding for Lending and Employment Discrimination

March 11, 2025

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that DCR has issued a Finding of Probable Cause alleging that Advance Funding Partners/Same Day Funding (Advance Funding), a New Jersey business that provides cash advances and loans to borrowers, violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by engaging in unlawful lending discrimination and employment discrimination…

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin Stands with Transgender Military Members in Challenge to President Trump’s Discriminatory Executive Order

February 14, 2025

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in filing a “friend of the court” brief, or amicus brief, to support a lawsuit challenging the implementation of President Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military. The brief argues that the executive order is unconstitutional, harms national security, and discriminates against transgender people honorably serving in our nation’s military, including the National Guard in every state…

DCR Notices

Immigrant Protections

LGBTQIA+ Protections

Language Access

The NJ Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is committed to ensuring equal access for New Jerseyans who have limited English proficiency (LEP). Every person in New Jersey, no matter their primary language, country of origin, nationality, or immigration status, is protected from discrimination and bias-based harassment under the NJ Law Against Discrimination.

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

Join DCR’s 2025 Housing Summit – Eradicating Discrimination in Housing

Join Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Yolanda N. Melville, Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR), for a celebration of the 80th anniversary of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

Learn about DCRs work to protect the people of New Jersey from housing discrimination. Join discussions with diverse community advocates and housing leaders about available resources and effective strategies to prevent and eliminate housing discrimination.

When:	April 24, 2025 1:00 – 3:00pm (12:00 – 1:00pm Networking)
Where:	War Memorial: 1 Memorial Dr., Trenton, NJ 08608
Register Here:	bit.ly/HousingSummitCentral