Enter to open, tab to navigate, enter to select
California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
Practical Law Glossary Item w-036-9138 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
Formerly called the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is the state agency responsible for enforcing the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the state's primary law that prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.
Among other things, the CRD is authorized to:
- Issue procedural rules and regulations (via the California Civil Rights Council (CRC), a rule-making body within the CRD).
- Investigate employment discrimination and related charges.
- Engage in discovery.
- Mediate employment discrimination or related charges.
- File employment discrimination or related lawsuits in court.
- Issue publications, investigation results, and research to generate goodwill and reduce discrimination in employment.
- Monitor and enforce certain contractor anti-discrimination programs.
- Receive, investigate, conciliate, mediate, and prosecute complaints alleging other similar civil rights violations.
- Provide California's governor and Legislature with an annual, written report of activities and recommendations.
For more information about the CRD, see the CRD's website.