Community Relations Service

{{Short description|US Federal agency}}

The Community Relations Service (CRS) is part of the United States Department of Justice. The office is 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,{{cite book|last=Harrington|first=Christine|title=Shadow Justice: The Ideology and Institutionalization of Alternatives to Court|url=https://archive.org/details/shadowjusticeide0000harr/page/88|year=1985|publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=0313243328|page=[https://archive.org/details/shadowjusticeide0000harr/page/88 88]}}{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-871140.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414063354/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-871140.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2016|title=BCA Delays Boycott; Justice Department Offers to Mediate|last1=Berkowitz|first1=Steve|last2=Asher|first2=Mark|date=15 January 1994|work=Washington Post |accessdate=4 June 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-181909420.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505233343/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-181909420.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2016|title=Republican National Convention; Justice Department unit reaches out to police, protesters|last=Furst|first=Randy|date=22 July 2008|work=Star Tribune |accessdate=4 June 2013}} and its mission was broadened by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Originally under the Department of Commerce, it was moved to the Department of Justice by order of President Johnson.{{cite book|last=Hutchinson|first=Earl Ofari|title=Betrayed: A History of Presidential Failure to Protect Black Lives|url=https://archive.org/details/betrayedhistoryo0000hutc/page/129|year=1996|publisher=Westview Press |isbn=0813324653|page=[https://archive.org/details/betrayedhistoryo0000hutc/page/129 129]}}

It is "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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/crs/us-doj-community-relations-service |title=US DOJ Community Relations Service | CRS | Department of Justice |access-date=2020-11-22 |archive-date=2017-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504232535/https://www.justice.gov/crs/us-doj-community-relations-service |url-status=dead }}

The most recent director was Paul Monteiro, who was appointed by the Biden administration and sworn in on May 26, 2022.[https://www.justice.gov/crs/about/meet-director-monteiro Community Relations Service], U.S Department of Justice. Accessed June 1, 2022. He resigned in April 2023.{{cite web |url=https://governor.maryland.gov/press/pages/Governor-Wes-Moore-Appoints-First-Secretary-of-the-Department-of-Service-and-Civic-Innovation.aspx |title=Governor Wes Moore Appoints First Secretary of the Department of Service and Civic Innovation |date=2023-04-03 |publisher=Office of Governor Wes Moore |access-date=2023-08-17}}

In April 2025 the second Trump administration considered closing the Service.{{Cite web |last=MacFarlane |first=Scott |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=2025-04-06 |title=Civil rights-era government agency in Justice Department to be purged - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/civil-rights-era-government-agency-to-be-purged/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}