Providing Legal and Policy Advice, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Main Page >> Law and Policy

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties provides legal and policy advice to the Department’s leadership on a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues.  In carrying out this responsibility, the Office is determined to be:

• Constructive – providing advice that will enable policy-makers to achieve their national security or law enforcement goals in ways that also protect civil rights and civil liberties.  
• Proactive – acting to shape policy before problems occur.  
• Innovative – recognizing that this is a new century, a new security context, and a new federal agency.

Advancing Interests of Individuals with Disabilities

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is committed to advancing the interests of individuals with disabilities, and is working on a number of initiatives to further those goals.  These initiatives include:

• The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities was established by Executive Order 13347 to improve emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with chairing the Interagency Coordinating Council.  

• Section 508 Compliance Program ensures that electronic and information technology is accessible for employees and consumers with disabilities.

Racial Profiling

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is responsible for implementing the Secretary’s Guidance on racial profiling. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is working with all Department components to update and strengthen racial profiling training of law enforcement personnel.

• The Department of Homeland Security’s Commitment to Race Neutrality in Law Enforcement Activities (PDF, 2 pages – 80 KB)
• Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, Department of Justice, June 2003

Read more about law and policy in the Office’s Annual Report to Congress (PDF, 51 pages – 830 KB)