Community Relations Service
The Community Relations Service (CRS) was part of the United States Department of Justice. The office was intended to act as a peacemaker "for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and disability". It was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and its mission was broadened by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed in 2009. Originally under the Department of Commerce, it was moved to the Department of Justice by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. It was "the only Federal agency dedicated to assist State and local units of government, private and public organizations, and community groups with preventing and resolving racial and ethnic tensions, incidents, and civil disorders, and in restoring racial stability and harmony" by employing conciliators. The most recent director was Paul Monteiro, who was appointed by the Biden administration and sworn in on May 26, 2022. He resigned in April 2023. In April 2025 the second Trump administration considered closing the Service. On September 30, 2025, it was shut down.
 Seal of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 2, 1964 |
| Dissolved | September 30, 2025 |
| Website | justice.gov/crs |
The Community Relations Service (CRS) was part of the United States Department of Justice. The office was intended to act as a peacemaker "for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and disability". It was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964,[1][2][3] and its mission was broadened by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed in 2009. Originally under the Department of Commerce, it was moved to the Department of Justice by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson.[4]
It was "the only Federal agency dedicated to assist State and local units of government, private and public organizations, and community groups with preventing and resolving racial and ethnic tensions, incidents, and civil disorders, and in restoring racial stability and harmony" by employing conciliators.[5]
The most recent director was Paul Monteiro, who was appointed by the Biden administration and sworn in on May 26, 2022.[6] He resigned in April 2023.[7]
In April 2025 the second Trump administration considered closing the Service.[8] On September 30, 2025, it was shut down.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Harrington, Christine (1985). Shadow Justice: The Ideology and Institutionalization of Alternatives to Court. Greenwood Press. p. 88. ISBN 0313243328.
- ^ Berkowitz, Steve; Asher, Mark (15 January 1994). "BCA Delays Boycott; Justice Department Offers to Mediate". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Furst, Randy (22 July 2008). "Republican National Convention; Justice Department unit reaches out to police, protesters". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Hutchinson, Earl Ofari (1996). Betrayed: A History of Presidential Failure to Protect Black Lives. Westview Press. p. 129. ISBN 0813324653.
- ^ "US DOJ Community Relations Service | CRS | Department of Justice". Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ Community Relations Service, U.S Department of Justice. Accessed June 1, 2022.
- ^ "Governor Wes Moore Appoints First Secretary of the Department of Service and Civic Innovation". Office of Governor Wes Moore. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ MacFarlane, Scott (2025-04-06). "Civil rights-era government agency in Justice Department to be purged - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ "FY 2026 Budget and Performance Summary". U.S. Department of Justice. 2025-06-13. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
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