The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that the number of civil rights cases filed in U.S. district courts declined nearly 20 percent between 2003 and 2006. Civil rights claims may involve allegations of discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, welfare benefits or voting rights based on an individual’s or group’s race, sex, religion, age, or physical condition. The report, "Civil Rights Complaints in U.S. District Courts, 1990-2006” is available on the DOJ website.
By Patricia Schaeffer, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs