The division was established on December 9, 1957, by order of Attorney General
William P. Rogers, after the
Civil Rights Act of 1957 created the head office of
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights (AAG-CR; appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate).
In 2021,
Kristen Clarke became the first woman confirmed to the position.
the
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980, which authorizes the Attorney General to seek relief for persons confined in public institutions where conditions exist that deprive residents of their constitutional rights
In addition, the Division prosecutes actions under several criminal civil rights statutes which were designed to preserve personal liberties and safety.
Assistant Attorneys General
denotes head that served as acting Assistant Attorney General