Civil Rights Unit

All New Hampshire residents and visitors have civil rights. Civil rights are your basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by law. There are many federal and state laws that protect civil rights, including the right to non-discriminatory treatment and the right to be free from bias-motivated violence. The Civil Rights Unit at the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office primarily enforces two such state laws, the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination and the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.

The Civil Rights Unit:

Investigates complaints of actual or threatened physical violence, property damage, and property trespass that was motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability;
Investigates complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation based on age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, religion, or national origin;
Brings civil actions for injunctive relief to protect individuals who have been subjected to bias-motivated actual or threatened violence, property damage, and property trespass;
Brings enforcement actions under state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodation;
Serves as a resource to local law enforcement related to the investigation and/or prosecution of hate crimes; and
Engages in community outreach and education regarding civil rights.