The Suffolk County Human Rights Commission serves to prevent bias and discrimination against residents since the 1960s. It is made up of a committee consisting of 15 voluntary members and seven paid staff members who accept complaints from the public. Suffolk County holds that its residents cannot be discriminated based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, gender, sexual orientations, marital status and other classifications.
Residents can file a complaint within one year using a form available on the website if they have been unfairly discriminated in a place of employment, housing, places of public accommodation, credit or volunteer firefighting. Any written documentation of discrimination or witnesses should be reported. The complaint will then undergo investigation by the county, which if probable cause is found, will go before a public hearing.