LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

Language Barriers in Law Enforcement

Language Barriers in Law Enforcement

Introduction

The number of immigrants living within the United States is growing. Unlike in the past, however, many are settling in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas, bringing new cultures and languages to places previously unaccustomed to such cultural diversity. As a result, many law enforcement agencies around the nation are dealing with unfamiliar languages as they work to ensure public safety. Overcoming these challenges is essential. When language barriers prevent immigrants from, say, reporting a crime or describing a suspect, it becomes harder for officers to provide protection or gather evidence. And police often work in high pressure situations where communication needs to happen quickly. This report draws upon real-life lessons from Translating Justice, a project of Vera's Center on Immigration and Justice, which worked with law enforcement agencies in California, Nevada, and Ohio to develop language access plans and policies suitable for their particular jurisdictions.

The report provides practical guidance for how law enforcement agencies of different sizes, capacities, and circumstances can begin to address language barriers they encounter.

Whether during a routine car stop or in a high stakes homicide investigation, as a law enforcement officer you need to be able to communicate effectively to do your job. Yet, as growing numbers of (Huberts, L., Lamboo, T., and Punch, M. 2003)immigrants become more geographically dispersed throughout the United States, incidents like the one described above-where communication breaks down-are commonplace.

Law enforcement agencies of diverse sizes and means around the country are responding with a variety of promising and effective new strategies for communicating with victims, suspects, and witnesses who speak little or no English.

Explantion

Even where police departments and sheriffs' offices have limited resources and few or no bilingual officers, some have found ways to bridge the language gap and make services more accessible. In recent years, the United States has seen the biggest wave of immigration since the early 20th century. The number of U.S. residents born in a different country increased by 57 percent between 1990 and 2000, going from 19.8 million to 31.1 million.1 Most of the new arrivals emigrated from Latin America, although many traveled from Asia and Africa. In comparison, Europe, once the primary source of immigrants, now contributes a relative trickle. Even faced with increased border, port, and airport security since September 11, 2001, large numbers of immigrants continue to arrive. In another departure from the past, today's newcomers are moving beyond gateway cities like New York and Los Angeles and settling in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas, attracted by greater economic opportunity and a lower cost of living. Latino immigrants-predominantly from rural Mexico-are now the backbone of the seasonal and year-round agricultural workforce in a growing number of rural areas across the Midwest and South. Western states, meanwhile, have seen growth in a variety of immigrant groups. More than one-third of the nation's foreign-born population lived in the West in 2000; most were of either Hispanic or Asian ...