Champaign — Ch. 17 Human Rights § 17-103
Investigation
Operative Text
(a) The Human Rights Officer or his or her designee shall promptly investigate allegations of discrimination set forth in any complaint and shall furnish the respondent with a copy of the complaint at the commencement of any such investigation. (b) A preliminary determination in writing shall be made by the investigator, stating whether or not there is probable cause to believe that this chapter has been violated, and on what facts such determination is based. (c) If the Human Rights Officer finds with respect to any respondent that the Commission lacks jurisdiction or that probable cause does not exist, the Human Rights Officer shall issue and cause to be served on the appropriate parties an order dismissing the allegations of the complaint.
Section 17-103 of Champaign's Human Rights chapter establishes the investigation process that follows the filing of a discrimination complaint. Once a complaint is filed, the Human Rights Officer or a designee must promptly investigate and provide the respondent with a copy of the complaint at the outset. The investigator then issues a written preliminary determination stating whether probable cause exists that the chapter was violated, along with the factual basis for that conclusion. If the Human Rights Officer finds no jurisdiction or no probable cause, a formal dismissal order is issued and served on the relevant parties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 17-103, property owners or managers named as respondents in a discrimination complaint can expect to receive a copy of that complaint at the start of the investigation. A compliant operator generally keeps thorough records of their rental practices and communications, which can be relevant when responding to an investigator's inquiry. If the Human Rights Officer determines that probable cause is lacking or that jurisdiction does not exist, a written dismissal order will be issued, formally closing the matter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 17-103 gives tenants who file a discrimination complaint the assurance that the Human Rights Officer must promptly investigate and produce a written preliminary determination explaining whether probable cause exists. If probable cause is found, the process continues; if the complaint is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction or probable cause, a formal written order is issued and served. Tenants who believe a dismissal was unwarranted may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource to understand what options, such as appeals or alternative enforcement paths, may be available under Chapter 17.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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