The Dane County Branch NAACP Legal Redress Committee does not provide legal representation, nor do we provide direct programs and services. The Legal Redress Committee does investigate allegations of discrimination.
While the Legal Redress Committee cannot offer legal advice, we can be partners in mediation or refer complainants to attorneys. If you believe that you have experienced discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, native origin, sexual orientation or other basis, you are encouraged to submit a Complaint of Discrimination Form .
You may also email us to request a form, or complete the online form (see File a Complaint). Except for unusual circumstances, our Legal Redress Committee can act only after they have received your signed statement. We are not attorneys. If you need an attorney, we have three attorneys who have agreed to consider cases of discrimination. Once an attorney has been retained, Legal Redress will no longer be directly involved.
It is important to know that the investigation/fact finding process requires us to hear both sides of a dispute. Educating the community about civil rights and community building is very important to our mission within NAACP. Therefore, it is our role to facilitate conversation between the two parties and, wherever possible, to mediate/negotiate a resolution that is amenable to both. There are occasions when individual cases of discrimination can uncover systemic discrimination, that is, discrimination throughout an entire business or other entity. In such a case, our local NAACP informs the Regional NAACP office.
Finally, it is extremely important that you understand that Legal Redress is a volunteer committee. This does not imply that we are lawyers or that we have judicial authority. Our Mission is to provide fact finding, mediation, and to match needs with resources where and whenever possible. NAACP services are also contingent on availability of funds and volunteers.
While the Legal Redress Committee cannot offer legal advice, we can be partners in mediation or refer complainants to attorneys. If you believe that you have experienced discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, native origin, sexual orientation or other basis, you are encouraged to submit a Complaint of Discrimination Form .
You may also email us to request a form, or complete the online form (see File a Complaint). Except for unusual circumstances, our Legal Redress Committee can act only after they have received your signed statement. We are not attorneys. If you need an attorney, we have three attorneys who have agreed to consider cases of discrimination. Once an attorney has been retained, Legal Redress will no longer be directly involved.
It is important to know that the investigation/fact finding process requires us to hear both sides of a dispute. Educating the community about civil rights and community building is very important to our mission within NAACP. Therefore, it is our role to facilitate conversation between the two parties and, wherever possible, to mediate/negotiate a resolution that is amenable to both. There are occasions when individual cases of discrimination can uncover systemic discrimination, that is, discrimination throughout an entire business or other entity. In such a case, our local NAACP informs the Regional NAACP office.
Finally, it is extremely important that you understand that Legal Redress is a volunteer committee. This does not imply that we are lawyers or that we have judicial authority. Our Mission is to provide fact finding, mediation, and to match needs with resources where and whenever possible. NAACP services are also contingent on availability of funds and volunteers.
