Filing A Complaint

Complaints are required to be filed within three hundred (300) days of the alleged discriminatory incident for employment, education, public accommodation, and credit complaints, and no later than one (1) year of the alleged discriminatory incident for housing complaints. DCRC will provide language interpreters or general assistance upon request in order to complete the necessary forms.

To file a complaint in person, by mail or fax, please print the appropriate document and submit:

File a Credit Complaint

File an Education Complaint

File an Employment Complaint

File a Housing Complaint

File a Public Accommodation Complaint

To file an online complaint: COMING SOON!

(For best results make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader Click here to download)

For further details regarding the complaint process please refer to:

Description of complaint process or Flowchart of the complaint process

Frequently Asked Questions

Consider Mediation

Mediation is an informal and confidential way for people to resolve disputes with the help of a neutral third party who is trained to help people discuss their differences. The mediator does not decide who is right or wrong, but instead, helps the parties work out their own solutions to the problem. Mediation is encouraged and offered as soon as the complaint is filed and all throughout the investigative process.

Mediation is not only nationally recognized as an excellent way to resolve complaints, but mediation is FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, QUICK and SUCCESSFUL. It also allows for creative settlement options and a method for both parties to be part of the solution and control the final resolution.

The decision to mediate is completely voluntary.  If both parties agree to mediate, a time and date will be scheduled and the mediation will be conducted by a trained and experienced mediator. If an agreement is reached, it is a binding agreement enforceable in court.  If an agreement is not reached, the charge will be investigated like any other charge.

Mediation is a FREE service offered through our office. If you are interested in taking advantage of the mediation process or have further questions regarding mediation, please contact our Mediation Coordinator at 563-326-7888.

What are Civil Rights?

Civil rights are personal rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Iowa Civil Rights Act, and the Davenport Civil Rights Ordinance. Civil Rights include the equal treatment of all people with respect to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property and freedom from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and education.

The Davenport Civil Rights Commission (DCRC) enforces the Davenport Civil Rights Ordinance which prohibits discrimination against person because of age, creed, marital status, race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, gender identity or familial status in the areas of employment, education, public accommodations, credit and housing.

Click here to view or download 2.58 of the Davenport Municipal Code

The following table shows the protected classes under the Davenport Civil Rights Ordinance. 

Protected Classes	Areas of Protection
	Employment	Housing	Public Accommodation	Education	Credit
Age
Race
Creed
Color
Religion
Sex
Gender Identity
Sexual Orientation
National Origin
Mental or Physical Disability
Marital Status
Familial Status

Areas of Protection

Credit

Everyday, countless individuals and families are denied access to mainstream credit.  Despite a reduction in the most blatant forms of discrimination, there is evidence that creditors commit more subtle discrimination against minority groups throughout the lending process. Discrimination occurs in: advertising and outreach, handling of pre-application inquiries, the loan approval or disapproval decision, loan pricing, and loan administration. Credit discrimination cases must be filed with the commission no later than 300 days from the date of the alleged incident.

Education

Under the Davenport Civil Rights Ordinance students, faculty, and staff are protected from discrimination in elementary and secondary schools as well as colleges.  Discrimination is defined as: the unequal treatment or denial of normal privileges to persons because of their immutable characteristics or personal choices. Education discrimination cases must be filed with the commission no later than 300 days from the date of the alleged incident.

Employment

It is unlawful to fail or refuse to hire, discharge any individual, or to discriminate against any individual with respect to the individual's compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. Employment discrimination complaints must be filed with the commission no later than 300 days from the date of the alleged incident.

Housing

It is unlawful to fail to rent or sell property because of a protected class, or advertise a preference or limitation, or impose different terms or conditions during tenancy based on a protected class.  It is also unlawful to fail to provide, or impose different terms and conditions, in home loans and insurance because of a protected class. Housing discrimination complaints must be filed with the commission no later than (1) year from the date of the alleged incident.

Factsheet Harassment in Housing

Public Accommodation

Public Accommodations are facilities whose goods, services or premises are offered to the public for a fee. Examples of public accommodations are: restaurants, hotels, retail stores, shopping centers, bars, museums, theaters, stadiums, parks, bus stations, airports, health clubs, and hospitals. Under City ordinance 2.58, it is illegal to deny a person access or treat them unequally, in a public accommodation because of their protected class. Public Accommodation discrimination complaints must be filed with the commission no later than 300 days from the dated of the alleged incident.

The Commission consists of seven Commissioners who serve without compensation. Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by the City Council, and serve two-year terms. The Commission elects officers as necessary from the members of the Commission.

The Commission appoints a Director, and the Director is required to report to the Commission monthly on the activities of the Director and the status of complaints filed in the office. The regularly scheduled Commission meeting are held the second Tuesday of the month at 12:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Civil Rights Conference Room.

Meeting Minutes & Agendas

Director's Reports

The Davenport Civil Right Commission is conducting an Accessibility Always campaign. Accessibility Always is a survey of various local restaurants that identifies American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible restaurants throughout Davenport. The purpose of this survey is to inform members of our community with a disability about accessible services, as well as, motivate restaurants to comply with ADA regulations.

The Davenport Civil Rights Commission identified various restaurants throughout the City based on their diverse locations and cuisine type. These restaurants are evaluated on their compliance with ADA entrance, parking lot, interior, and restroom standards.

In addition to providing information through written documents the Davenport Civil Rights Commission is distributing window decals with the Accessibility Always logo to each business meeting the accessible standards.

Requests to survey a location are welcome!  Please contact our office at 563-326-7888 or click on Service Requests at the top of this page

*This is not a comprehensive list of all restaurants in Davenport.  Restaurants that meet the requirements will be continually added to the list. 

• Citizen's Aid Ombudsman
• View the Hate Crime Victims Information PDF
• Iowa Civil Rights Commission
• Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC)
• United States Civil Rights Commission (USCRC)
• Department of Civil Rights
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• HUD's PAVE Initiative to Battle Bias in the Appraisal Field
• HUD's LGBTQIA Fair Housing Tool Kit
• HUD Guidance on Assistance Animals
• HUD Guidance on Use of Criminal Records Screening in Housing
• The Iowa Guide to Changing Legal Identity Documents (PDF)

The Davenport Civil Rights Commission offers materials, no cost training, and educational programs on civil rights to employers, the housing industry and community groups. Please contact our office to arrange for training and education.

Presentations

HUD FLYER

Civil Rights History

Civil Rights Law

Diversity in the Workplace

Who We Are 

Sexual Harassment

Fair Housing Under Federal, State & Local Law

Landlord Training

LGBT NCLR Presentation

LGBT One Iowa Presentation

LGBT Equal Access Rule Training 

Additional Resources

Effective Communication and the ADA

Criminal Background Check Flyer

Assistance Animal Fact Sheet

Service Animals in Public Places

Advertising Guidelines

Fair Housing Act Accessibility Requirements

Davenport established a civil rights commission by ordinance in 1962. The commission established in1962 had no enforcement power, but that was changed by a new civil rights ordinance enacted in 1974. The 1974 ordinance established the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and provided at that time that persons are to be protected from discrimination in the city based upon their race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, age, or mental or physical disability. The areas protected by the ordinance in 1974 included employment, credit, public accommodation, and housing.

The ordinance was amended in 1999 to make its housing provisions substantially equivalent to the federal Fair Housing Act and to grant the Commission subpoena powers during its investigation process. The ordinance was amended again in 2000 to add sexual orientation as a protected class. In 2005, the ordinance was amended again to clarify some of its provisions and to add education as a protected area.

The Davenport Civil Rights Ordinance enacted in 1974 provides that its purpose is to provide a Civil Rights Commission at the local level that will secure freedom of discrimination for all persons who are members of a protected class within the city and to provide a Commission dedicated to the effective enforcement of the civil rights chapter. The ordinance additionally gave the Commission the power to enter into contracts with federal, state, or other municipal civil rights agencies to further the purposes of the civil rights chapter. Under the power granted by the ordinance, the Davenport Commission enters a contract each year with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission to enforce state and local civil rights laws.

In 2000, after the Davenport Civil Rights Commission became substantially equivalent to the federal Fair Housing Act, it began to enter contracts with the United States Department of Urban Development [HUD] each year to enforce fair housing laws in Davenport.

Effective enforcement of civil rights laws locally is extremely important for entitlement cities like Davenport because it can have an impact on the receipt of federal funds.  Community development block grant dollars are received by entitlement cities from HUD in exchange for evidence that the community takes all efforts to affirmatively further fair housing in its community.  The Davenport Civil Rights Commission is extremely proud of its record of both its education and outreach and its enforcement efforts regarding all areas in which it offers protections.   Its exemplary record is reflected in both the 2000 and 2005 Impediments to Fair Housing Studies that are required by HUD, awards received in recognition of outstanding contributions to the community from the local NAACP Branch, and for the Commission's outstanding work in protecting people's civil rights from the Iowa Lulac State Committee.

The first Commissioners appointed by Mayor O'Brien in 1962 include:

Paul Ives

Henry Vargas

Charles Toney

Harry Roberts

Virgil Bowen

Hollister Hosutt

Lawrence Satin
 
The director position was created in March of 1970.  William Cribbs [WC] was appointed to be the first director in September of 1970.  E. King Morris, Jerry Smith, Sandra Williams, and Brenda Drew-Peeples served as directors after William Cribbs and up to 1999.  Judith J. Morrell was hired on March 1, 1999 and served as director until 2014.  In 2014 Latrice Lacey was appointed as Director of the Civil Rights Commission. 

Davenport Civil Rights Commission Historical Tour

The Davenport's Civil Rights Commission in partnership with St. Ambrose University and the Putnam Museum captured the story of Davenport's Civil Rights History from 1945 to 1974. This is a compelling, inspiring story and it needs to be told, and retold for generations to come. Click on the link below for additional information and to download the map to visit the places where local civil rights events took place!

Davenport Civil Rights Commission Historical Tour

Below is a link to the recent interview with Civil Rights Activist Bill Cribbs done by the Quad Cities Times reporter as well as  the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. address in Davenport, IA on April 28, 1965.

Discrimination has been a long-standing issue in the United States and has taken on several forms. Our staff is dedicated to eliminating all forms of discrimination by:

• Promoting quality of life in Davenport for all individuals.
• Raising awareness by offering training and educational sessions and distributing information throughout the community.
• Building partnerships with other civic and social organizations to embrace diversity.
• You can follow our social media pages to keep up on events and other important legal information relating to civil rights. Check out Our Facebook Page and Our Twitter Page!