The Federal Judiciary, including Federal Public Defender Organizations (FPDOs), is committed to a workplace of respect, civility, fairness, tolerance, and dignity, free of discrimination and harassment. These values are essential to FPDOs, which hold Federal Public Defenders (FPDs) and their Employees to the highest standards. All FPDs and Employees are expected to treat each other accordingly.

This Plan provides options for the reporting and resolution of allegations of wrongful conduct (discrimination, sexual, racial, or other discriminatory harassment, abusive conduct, and retaliation) in the workplace. Early action is the best way to maintain a safe work environment. All FPDOs, FPDs, and Employees have a responsibility to promote workplace civility, prevent harassment or abusive conduct, and to take appropriate action upon receipt of reliable information indicating a likelihood of wrongful conduct under this Plan. See  Code of Conduct for Federal Public Defender Employees, Canon 3(C). This Plan is promulgated by the circuit judicial council and United States Court of Appeals (COA) for adoption by each FPD within the circuit, pursuant to their respective authorities under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g)(2)(A).

This Plan applies to all FPDOs, FPDs, current and former Employees (including all FPDO law clerks and paid and unpaid interns, externs, and other volunteers), and applicants for FPDO employment who have been interviewed. The following persons cannot seek relief under this Plan: FPDs,¹ Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys and applicants, private investigators, retained service providers, community defender employees, volunteer mediators, and any other non-Employees not specified above. See Appendix 1 for full definitions.