Resource guide

Note that each resource has a specific area of focus and may not be able to offer assistance.

Office of Police Complaints

The Office of Police Complaints (OPC) provides a variety of ways to file a police misconduct complaint.  A completed, signed complaint form must be received by OPC within 45 days of the date of the incident. For information on what types of complaints OPC investigates, download the agency brochure at www.policecomplaints.dc.gov.

Complaint forms can be obtained by any of the methods below: 

·         Online at www.policecomplaints.dc.gov

·         In person at OPC's office located at 1400 I Street, NW, Suite 700

·         By phone at 202-727-3838, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 

·         Calling OPC's 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 866-588-0569

·         At any Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) district station [MPD will forward the complaint to OPC]

Complaint forms can be submitted:

·         In person or by mail to the address above

·         By fax to (202) 727-9182

·         By dropping forms off at any MPD district station

Lawyer referrals

D.C. Lawyer Referral Service - (202) 296-7845

The Bar Association of D.C. Lawyer Referral Service will, for a small fee, provide the names of attorneys who work on cases like yours. Those attorneys may not be free but may review your case at a reduced rate and have helpful advice about your options.. 

Legal help for people with low income

Neighborhood Legal Services Program - (202) 832-6577

Legal Aid Society of DC - (202) 628-1161

Archdiocesan Legal Network of Catholic Charities - (202) 628-4263

Advice and Referral Clinic (D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program) - (202) 737-4700

Bread for the City (Legal Program) – by appointment only

            NW Legal Clinic: (202) 480-8950 (Mon – Thurs,  9 am – 5 pm)

SE Legal Clinic: (202) 791-3982 (Mon – Thurs, 9 am – 5 pm)

The DC Volunteer Lawyers Project - (202) 885-5542

Law school clinics

American University Washington College of Law - (202) 274-4140

George Washington University Law School - Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics  - (202) 994-7463

Georgetown University Law Center  - (202) 662-9862 (by referral only)

Howard University Law School - (202) 806-8082

Catholic University Columbus School of Law – (202) 319-6788

UDC David A. Clarke School of Law - (202) 274-5073

D.C. Law Students in Court - (202) 638-4798

General Information About DC Law

LawHelp

Information on ten areas of law: consumer, family law, public benefits, life and estate planning/guardianship, tax, employment, housing, immigration/asylum, law of nonprofit organizations and small business law.

D.C. Code

D.C. Register

HALT - (202) 887-8255

Nolo

D.C. Bar Legal Information Help Line - (202) 626-3499

Employment (Discrimination)

Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, EEO Project - (202) 319-1000

D.C. Office of Human Rights  - (202) 727-4559

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Washington EEOC Field Office - (202) 419-0700 

Toll-free – (800) 669-4000