Policy Text
Page 1 of 2 1/03 (REV 2/97)
Discriminatory Practices
The purpose of this order is to p rohibit unlawful practices in the delivery of Departmental
services and programs to the publ ic and to outline the procedur es for reporting and
investigating discrim ination complaints.
I. General
A. The Sheriff’s Department is co mmitted to the goal of equal a ccess by all
citizens to County employment, s ervices, and benefits. It is th e policy of
this Department that no person sha ll be unlawfully denied such
employment, services, or benefits , or be subjected to unlawful
discrimination in any of its programs or activities.
II. Discrimination Prohibited
A. No person employed by or ot herwise under the direction and c ontrol of the
Sheriff’s Department shall engag e in any act that illegally dis criminates
against any person or group based on any of the following:
1. Gender 2. Marital Status 3. Pregnancy 4. Race 5. Color
6. National Origin
7. Religion 8. Physical or mental disability or perceived physical or menta l
disability.
9. Medical Condition 10. Age 11. Sexual orientation or per ceived sexual orientation.
B. If the Sheriff determines t hat a policy, order, procedure, o r practice of the
Department results in the dis parate treatment of an individual or in
disparate impact upon any group de scribed above, he shall decl are the
policy, order, procedure or pra ctice inoperativ e and shall ini tiate corrective
action. C. Employees who engage in an ac t of unlawful discrimination ar e subject to
disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
Page 2 of 2 1/03 (REV 2/97)
III. Duty to Report
A. Each person employed by or otherwise under t he direction an d control of
the Sheriff’s Department who bec omes aware of a discriminator y act
committed by a member of this Department will report such act to his or
her supervisor. B. Each person employed by or otherwise under t he direction an d control of
the Sheriff’s Department havi ng any inquiry, comment, suggest ion, or
criticism regarding any policy , order, procedure or practice which is
believed to be discriminatory is directed to bring the matter to the attention
of his or her supervisor. C. When, in the opinion of the em ployee, a matter involving di scrimination
has not been addressed satisfac torily by the supervisor, the employee
may bring it to the attention of any supervisor or manager in the chain of
command, up to and incl uding the Sheriff.
D. No person employed by or otherwise under t he direction and control of the
Sheriff’s Department shall be su bject to disciplinary sanctio ns or otherwise
retaliated against for the good faith exercise of any right o r responsibility
under this section. IV. Complaints and Investigations
A. Citizen complaints regarding a discriminatory act, policy, o rder,
procedure, or practice unrelat ed to employment matters will be accepted
and investigated in accordance with General Order 3/01 entitle d,
“Complaints and Disciplinar y Policies and Procedures.”
B. Complaints of employment-rela ted discrimination will be acc epted and
investigated in accordance wit h General Order 3/05 entitled, “ Employment
Discrimination.” C. Complaints from inmates incar cerated in a Sheriff’s Departme nt
correctional facility will be a ccepted and investigated accord ing to the
Operations Order governing inmate grievance policy for that fa cility.