To
provide free Federal conciliation and mediation services to communities
in preventing and resolving community tensions, conflicts, and civil
disorders arising from actions, policies, and practices that are
perceived to be based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. No
funds are granted to outside organizations to provide these services.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
The
Community Relations Service (CRS) employs conciliation, mediation,
technical assistance, and training techniques to provide free services
to communities in preventing, reducing, and resolving racial and
ethnic conflicts. Through conciliation, CRS facilitates communication
among disputing parties. Through mediation, CRS intervenes to promote
the settlement of disputes through the terms of an oral or written
agreement between the disputing parties. Through technical assistance,
CRS provides subject matter expertise to communities by providing
such services as: participating in, and facilitating community meetings
and task forces; and sponsoring, cosponsoring, or making presentations
at conferences and forums. CRS conducts training in such areas as
community policing, police/community relations, response to hate
crimes, and conflict resolution techniques (e.g., student peer mediation).
CRS also develops resource materials and prepares articles for publication
on preventing, and resolving racial and ethnic conflicts in communities.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: CRS provides services without cost
assistance to representatives of groups, communities, Federal, State
or local governmental units that seek to resolve, reduce or prevent
conflicts related to race, ethnicity, or national origin may be
considered for CRS assistance. CRS does not provide grants to communities
for conciliation and mediation assistance programs.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: CRS does not provide grants to
communities, but beneficiaries may include any group, representatives
of a community, or Federal, State or local governmental unit that
experiences tensions involving race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Parties interested in requesting
free conciliation and mediation service may write, phone, or contact
in person, headquarters or regional offices. No standard form
is used. CRS does not provide grant funds to purchase assistance
or to fund community programs.
Award
Procedure: Assistance is provided by direct
response from an appropriate agency official to the applicant
in the form of conflict prevention and resolution services. CRS
will provide on-site services in major racial or ethnic crisis
situations within 24 hours from the time when your community notifies
CRS or CRS becomes aware of the crisis. In non-crisis situations,
CRS will contact you within three days of when your community
notifies CRS or CRS becomes aware of the situation to discuss
your request for CRS services.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: In major racial
or ethnic crisis situations, on-site services are provided within
24 hours of notifying CRS. In non-crisis situations, CRS will
contact the requestor within 3 days to discuss the request.
Appeals:
Applicant can request assistance again. If the agency is not authorized
to provide a response, the applicant will be referred to an appropriate
agency or resource for assistance.
Renewals:
Each request for service is given a separate response by CRS.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: None.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Continuous
until action is taken that leads to resolution of the conflict,
or when CRS no longer has jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. 2000g.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
None.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 15-0500-0-1-752.
Obligations:
(Salaries and expenses) FY 01 $7,455,000; FY 02 est $8,456,000;
and FY 03 est $9,269,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
No financial assistance is provided by CRS. Rather, CRS staff
provide appropriate services at no cost to the requestor.
As of fiscal year 2001, CRS was called upon to resolve or prevent
racial and ethnic community conflicts throughout the country. The
CRS had an active case load of approximately 1400 cases. Most of
CRS' conflict prevention services focused on reducing racial and
ethnic tensions between law enforcement and communities across the
U.S., preventing racial and ethnic violence in public schools, and
resolving community tensions associated with hate crimes.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
There are no regulations or guidelines for requesting assistance
from CRS, except as noted under paragraph 081, above. Pamphlets
and other materials developed by CRS for use by communities include:
"Principles of Good Policing: Avoiding Violence Between Police and
Citizens"; "Responding to Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents
on College/University Campuses"; "Managing Major Public Events:
"Guidelines for Effective Human Relations Commissions"; "Police
Use of Excessive Force: A Conciliation Handbook for the Police and
the Community"; "Managing Major Public Events: A Planning Guide
for Municipal Officials, Law Enforcement, Community Leaders, Organizers,
and Promoters"; "Avoiding Racial Conflict: Guide for Municipalities."
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Catalog Appendix IV for
addresses.
Headquarters
Office: For general information, Community
Relations Service, Department of Justice, Suite 6000, 600 E St.
NW., Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: (202) 305-2935. Use the
same number for FTS.
Web
Site Address: http://www.usdoj.gov/crs
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Not applicable. CRS does not fund projects. Rather, its staff provide
services directly to the public.
