Office of Justice and Civil Rights

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DSHS/OOS/OJCR is committed to providing an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, retaliation, and other inappropriate behaviors.

File a civil rights complaint

You may also file a complaint by using one of the other contact methods at the bottom of the page.

Our Purpose

  • Ensuring timely and equitable access to DSHS services and fostering an environment where employees and clients are treated with dignity.
  • Ensuring equitable investigations of Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights complaints from DSHS employees and clients.
  • Providing fair and impartial reviews of administrative hearing decisions concerning findings of Adult Protective Services or determinations in public benefits cases.
  • Supporting a workplace that is free from harassment and discrimination.
  • Providing independent assessment of the public safety risk of proposed changes in commitment status for patients found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity or found incompetent to stand trial for a violent offense.
  • Helping to develop and publish official Department rules and policies that are necessary, fair, understandable, equitable, and consistent.

Who We Are

  • Advocacy and oversight of conditions for SCC.
  • Access to DSHS services.
  • Reviews complaints submitted by third parties or on behalf of clients, patients, customers, vendors, contractors, or service provider.
  • Mediation and other dispute resolution techniques to address conflict and promote a respectful and collaborative workplace. 
  • Review of administrative hearing decisions concerning findings of Adult Protective Services or determinations in public benefits cases.
  • Investigates employee complaints and allegations addressing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.
  • Provides liaison assistance between the DSHS administrations and external investigating agencies such as the EEOC or the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
  • Review of public safety risks posed by proposed changes in commitment status for NGRI patients and those found incompetent to stand trial for a violent offense.
  • DSHS rule-making experts.
  • Oversight and assistance in drafting and finalizing all the administrative policies that guide the department’s work.

Our Team

Dr. Pearlette Ramos, Senior Director, OJCR
Summer Meadows, ACR Manager
Marc Lampson, Chief Review Judge
Debra Quinn, Chief Investigator
Monica Rands-Preuss, ADR/Third Party Investigations Administrator
Lisa Wolph, Program Manager, PSRP

Strategic Priorities

Four strategic priorities


Contact Us

Phone: (800) -737-0617
TTY/TDD users dial 711 or 1-800-833-6384 for Washington Relay Service
Mailing address:
DSHS Justice and Civil Rights
PO Box 45131
Olympia, WA 98504-5105

Related Notices and Policies


External Resources

Learn more about OJCR’s relationship with external enforcement entities (Coming soon)