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How to File

Your Rights

Anyone in Indiana can file a complaint if they believe they experienced unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations, or credit.

There is no cost to file a complaint with ICRC.

Before You File

ICRC will first review the information you provide to see if your concern meets the requirements of Indiana Civil Rights Law.

If it does, we will help you move forward with completing a formal Complaint of Discrimination.

To be accepted, your complaint must be:

  • Within an area ICRC covers (employment, housing, public accommodations, education, or credit)
  • Filed within the legal deadlines:
    • Employment, Education, Public Accommodations, Credit: within 180 days
    • Housing: within 1 year

If your concern is outside ICRC’s jurisdiction, we will explain why and help connect you to the correct agency or resource.

  • Quick Checklist: Am I Ready to File a Complaint?

    1. Did the incident involve discrimination?

    Discrimination means being treated unfairly because of a protected class, such as:

    • Race
    • Color
    • National origin
    • Ancestry
    • Religion
    • Sex
    • Disability
    • Familial status (housing only)
    • Veteran status (public accommodations only)
    • Retaliation for asserting your rights

    If your concern is not connected to a protected class, ICRC may not have jurisdiction.

    2. Did the issue happen in an area ICRC covers?

    ICRC can only investigate discrimination involving:

    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Public accommodations (stores, restaurants, services, etc.)
    • Education
    • Credit

    If your concern is about a general customer service issue, workplace dispute, or landlord/tenant issue without discrimination, another agency may be the correct resource.

    3. Did it occur within the legal deadline?

    • Housing: within 1 year
    • Employment: within 180 days
    • Public Accommodations: within 180 days
    • Education: within 180 days
    • Credit: within 180 days

    If the incident happened before these deadlines, ICRC cannot accept the complaint, but we may be able to direct you to another resource.

    4. Do you have basic information about what happened?

    You should be able to explain:

    • What happened
    • When it happened
    • Who was involved
    • Where it happened

    You do not need full proof to file, just the basic facts.

    5. Are you prepared to sign the complaint?

    ICRC can only move forward with a signed Complaint of Discrimination form.

    Unsigned complaints cannot be investigated.

What Happens After You File

Once ICRC receives your signed complaint, the process moves in several steps. Not every case will require every step or look the same.

  • 1. Intake Review

    A trained intake specialist reviews your documents to confirm the complaint meets legal requirements and is complete.

  • 2. Assignment to an Investigator

    If your complaint meets the guidelines, it is assigned to an investigator who will manage the case from start to finish.

  • 3. Mediation (Available at Any Time)

    ICRC may offer mediation early in the process, but you can choose mediation at any point during your complaint.

    Mediation is:

    • Free
    • Voluntary
    • Confidential
    • Led by a neutral mediator

    Mediation allows both sides to talk through the issue and try to reach an agreement quickly.

    Many complaints are resolved in mediation without needing a full investigation.

    If mediation is not successful, or if either party chooses not to mediate, the complaint continues through the regular process.

  • 4. Notice to the Other Party

    If the case continues, ICRC sends a copy of your complaint to the respondent (the person or organization the complaint is about).

  • 5. Investigation (if mediation does not resolve the issue)

    Your investigator may:

    • Interview the parties
    • Request documents
    • Speak with witnesses
    • Conduct site visits if needed

    Investigations are designed to be fair, timely, and objective.

  • 6. Determination

    After reviewing the evidence, ICRC issues a written determination stating whether discrimination occurred.

  • 7. Notification and Next Steps

    You will receive the determination in writing along with information about any next steps allowed under the law.

    In employment and housing cases, ICRC may also share the determination with our federal partners (EEOC or HUD).

Submit a claim in one of the following ways: