“Meaningful
Access”
through
“Appropriate Interpreters”
It’s
the Constitutional Right
of Limited English-Speakers
Title
VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act requires that all public
agencies, and non profits receiving any federal monies,
must provide language interpretation to limited English-speaking
persons adequate to give “meaningful access”
to critical services and to important programs and activities.
In
outlining practices that are not appropriate, The federal
guidelines specifically highlight the unacceptable use
of family, friends, or neighbors, to translate for victims
of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Clearly,
our police agencies are systematically violating the constitutional
rights of non English-speakers in our community. As such,
they are causing immense harm to individual victims and
to the community as a whole.
(see From Barrier to
Barring the Door)
Complete Title VI language rights guidelines at: www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/lep/DOJFinLEPFRJun182002.htm
