Law Enforcement

Title VI Enforcement by the U.S. Department of Justice

Title VI Language Access Agreement with Hazleton Pennsylvania Police Department - May 28, 2021 

• Agreement  (Spanish Español)
• Press Release (Spanish Español) 
• Press Release (English)  

United States Agrees to Comprehensive Settlement with Suffolk County Police Department to Resolve Investigation of Discriminatory Policing Against Latinos, with "meaningful access to police services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP)" - December 3, 2013

Department of Justice Files Title VI Statement of Interest in Case Alleging National Origin Discrimination by NYPD - November 22, 2013

U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona denies Maricopa County and Sheriff Arpaio's Motions to Dismiss, ruling that "longstanding case law, federal regulations and agency interpretation of those regulations hold language-based discrimination constitutes a form of national origin discrimination under Title VI." See pages 6-8 - December 12, 2012

New York City Police Department LEP Compliance Review, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - February, 2010

Memorandum of Agreement between USA and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, U.S. Department of Justice - May 11, 2010

Memorandum of Agreement between USA and Town of Mattawa Washington and Mattawa Police Department, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, U.S. Department of Justice - March 18, 2008

Memorandum of Agreement between USA and Lake Worth, FL Police Department, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, U.S. Department of Justice - March 17, 2007

Federal Agency Resources

Section 12601 and Title VI: Two Powerful Department Tools to Address Systemic Police Misconduct | Title VI Part of Article, DOJ Journal of Federal Law and Practice - January 2022

LEP Resource Guide for Law Enforcement, U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security - February 2013 

What are the pros and cons of giving non-bilingual police officers cards with pictures and bilingual descriptors to help get a description of a fleeing suspect from witnesses and suspects on the scene? Commonly Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Limited English Proficient (LEP) Individuals, Question 13

Lost in Translation: Limited English Proficient Populations and the Police by Bharathi A. Venkatraman, Attorney, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, U.S. Department of Justice. (Archived) - August, 2006

Memo to State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Use of Shared Funds to Pay for Language Assistance Services Hurricane-Related Issues, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section - September 13, 2005. 

Overcoming Language Barriers: Solutions for Law Enforcement, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program, U.S. Department of Justice and the Vera Institute of Justice

Directives, Orders, Policies, and Forms

Denver Police Department, Language Access Policy - December 2022

Brown County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin, Policy Admin 19, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Services - March 2019

Nassau County Police Department, New York, Language Access Recommendation Form - March 2021

Fulton County Sheriff's Office Written Directive on Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Guidelines, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - January, 2008

Knoxville Tennessee Police Department General Order Regarding Limited English Proficiency Assistance Plan, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - January, 2008

Reno Nevada Police Department's Limited English Proficiency Plan, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - August, 2006

San Francisco General Order Regarding Language Access Services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - October, 2007

• Officer LEP Training Video (YouTube) - February 28, 2014
• Guide to Language Assistance Services in 4 Non-English Languages

Modesto California Police Department General Order Regarding Limited English Proficiency Assessment Plan and Service Delivery, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - September, 2007

Las Vegas Nevada Metropolitan Police Department Procedural Order on Interaction with Persons Who Have Limited English Proficiency (LEP), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - 2006

Philadelphia Police Department Limited English Language Proficiency Directive 71 - December, 2005

Other Resources

Overcoming Language Barriers: Solutions for Law Enforcement, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program, U.S. Department of Justice and the Vera Institute of Justice

Providing Meaningful Language Access and Avoiding the Use of Children as Interpreters – Resources for Law Enforcement, Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities- May 2019

New York Attorney General Schneiderman Secures Agreement Ensuring Full Access to Law Enforcement Services in Middletown - September 20, 2013 (Spanish)