Mission Statement
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission enforces the Indiana civil rights laws and provides education and services to the public in an effort to ensure equal opportunity for all Hoosiers and visitors to the State of Indiana.
Vision Statement
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission will be an important societal influence working to eliminate illegal discrimination in Indiana.
Values Statement
We value resolving cases and responding to inquiries in a time frame that provides the people we serve with meaningful results.
We value actions that are fair, consistent and unbiased.
We value knowledgeable employees to best serve the public’s interest.
We value and respect the dignity of each individual and the differences among all people.
We value the ability to treat others the way they want to be treated.
We believe that by embracing these values we will provide the highest quality service to the public.
Enforcement
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission works closely with the United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to eliminate discrimination within the state of Indiana through public education and enforcement of state and federal anti-discrimination law.
Investigators work to identify the issues presented in a Complaint and the types of information that must be collected in order to establish whether or not a violation of the Indiana Civil Rights Law or the Indiana Fair Housing Act may have occurred. The Investigators are neutral fact-finders who conduct interviews of the parties and any witnesses, request documents, make on-site observations, if necessary, and accurately compile the evidence in a Final Investigative Report for consideration of the Executive or Deputy Director.
The Investigations unit is divided into two sections—Employment and REPACE (Real Estate, Public Accommodations, Credit and Education). Each section carries on similar investigative functions but focuses on particular areas of enforcement. The Employment section investigates only Complaints in the area of employment, while REPACE investigates all other Complaints filed with the agency. The Employment section is responsible for meeting the terms of the agency’s partnership with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. REPACE is responsible for meeting the terms of the agency’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Enforcement Process
Filing a complaint: You must file a complaint with the Commission within 180 days of the date the alleged act of discrimination took place. Once your complaint is processed, you will be advised of your rights and responsibilities.
Mediation: This is a process in which an impartial person helps parties resolve their dispute prior to a thorough investigation.
Investigation: If the dispute cannot be resolved through mediation, the Commission will conduct a full investigation that is objective, timely and efficient
Determination: A determination is issued indicating whether or not there is adequate evidence of discrimination.
Notification: You will be notified of the Commission’s determination and will receive instructions on how to seek the remedies provided for under the law, which could result in a hearing or civil action in a court of law.