The Special Litigation Section protects civil rights in the following areas: (1) the rights of people in state or local institutions, including jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, and health care facilities for persons with disabilities; (2) the rights of people who interact with state or local law enforcement agencies; (3) the rights of people to have safe access to reproductive health care clinics; and (4) the rights of people to practice their religion while confined to state and local institutions. The Special Litigation Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 1997 to 1997j; Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, 18 U.S.C. § 248; Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, 34 U.S.C. § 10228; the institutionalized persons provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc-1 to 2000cc-5; Section 210401 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (see JM 8-2.262); Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as it relates to public facilities covered by CRIPA and RLUIPA and to the conduct of law enforcement agencies in public facilities; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC §§ 12132 et seq. (see JM 8-2.400).

[updated March 2018]