Transparency policy

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Increases Transparency

Acting Executive Director Cleveland L. Horton, II introduced new measures focused on strengthening civil rights accountability and transparency at the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. Effective October 1, 2024, information sharing with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights during the investigative process will be shared with both the Complainants and Respondents, with the exception of information deemed confidential. This new measure will allow all parties to respond directly to the information submitted by either party.

“This change in MCCR policy is an important step toward accountability and transparency,” said Acting Executive Director Cleveland L. Horton, II. “It takes courage to come forward with a complaint of discrimination. We want to encourage this bravery with meaningful reform that increases clarity in the civil rights process and strengthens the community’s trust. For too long, the public has felt that our processes, and the information contained in those processes, are held behind a mystical curtain. This is just one step closer to completely opening that mystical curtain and being more transparent.”

This policy only impacts those cases processed on or after October 1, 2024. This policy is not retroactive. To assist with this transition, MCCR has included on its website guidelines for Respondents to write an effective position statement and a list of frequently asked questions on MCCR’s position statement procedures. Our website also includes guidelines for Complainants to submit their rebuttal statements after their review of the information submitted by Respondents.

For more information on MCCR, visit www.mccr.maryland.gov