NCJ Number
140496
Journal
Texas Police Journal Volume: 40 Issue: 11 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 9-10
Date Published
1992
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement agencies are required to comply with the provisions of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1991; compliance is crucial to avoiding discrimination claims that can disrupt the operation of an entire agency.
Abstract
In short, the Act requires the development of employment practices which bear a significant association with job performance and to the overriding business objectives of the agency. Documentation is essential to ensure a successful defense against any possible litigation. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, and national origin; it provides for a 2-year statute of limitations to file a complaint against an employer. Compensatory damages may be awarded to a successful plaintiff to cover past and future probable lost wages, medical expenses, and physical pain or mental anguish. The Act's clauses also cover alternative dispute resolution, selection cases, inadmissible evidence, order of proof, and challenges to groups of employment practices. Agencies that implement principles of compliance, fairness, and a sympathetic attitude toward employees are likely to have a more successful work environment and avoid most discrimination of the types prohibited by this statute.