DOJ Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative
The Department of Justice has launched its Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative (LELAI), a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies (or LEAs) to overcome language barriers in their day-to-day work. Led by the Civil Rights Division’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, this Initiative provides technical assistance reprodsources and tools aimed at helping state and local law enforcement provide meaningful language access to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP), in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
LELAI also affirmatively engages law enforcement agencies that want to review, update and/or strengthen their language access polices, plans and training. The Initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between law enforcement agencies and communities that may not speak, read, write, or understand English. Investing in this effort not only assists LEAs in complying with Title VI, but it also promotes community and officer safety, collection of reliable evidence, and community trust. If you are a law enforcement agency interested in improving your agency’s ability to communicate with individuals or communities with LEP, email LELAI@usdoj.gov
King County Sheriff’s Office, Washington
- Justice Department Secures Language Access Agreement with Sheriff’s Office in Washington State (Settlement Agreement) – February 8, 2024
- Press Release: (Spanish Español) (Vietnamese Tiếng Việt) (Russian Pусский) (Somali Soomaaliga) (Chinese Simplified 简体字) (Korean 한국어/조선말)
- Agreement in Principle between the United State of America and the King County Sheriff's Office- December 12, 2023
Denver Police Department, Colorado
- Justice Department Announces Resolution of Language Access Investigation Against Denver Police Department (Settlement Agreement) – December 19, 2022
- (Amharic አማርኛ) (Arabic العربية) (Burmese မြန်မာဘာသာ) (Chinese, Simplified 简体字) (Chinese, Traditional 簡體字) (Farsi فارسی) (French Français) (Karen ကညီ) (Nepali नेपाली) (Rohingya Ruáingga (Audio Version)) (Russian Pусский) (Somali Soomaaliga) (Spanish Español) (Vietnamese Tiếng Việt)
- Language Access Policy – December 19, 2022
- DOJ YouTube Video (English) - December 19, 2022
Hazleton Police Department, Pennsylvania
- Settlement Agreement – May 28, 2021 (Spanish Español)
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona
Communication to Washington State Law Enforcement from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices of Washington State (E.D. and W.D.) re: Communication Obligations of Law Enforcement Agencies – April 24, 2024
- Information Regarding Law Enforcement Agencies’ Communication Obligation to Individuals with Limited English Proficiency – Begins on page 3
Letter to Law Enforcement Agencies re: Language Access – December 12, 2023
- (Spanish Español) (Chinese Traditional 簡體字) (Chinese Simplified 简体字) (Vietnamese Tiếng Việt) (Arabic لعربية) (Tagalog Tagalog) (Korean 한국어/조선말)
- Press Readout - (Spanish Español) (Chinese Traditional 簡體字) (Chinese Simplified 简体字) (Vietnamese Tiếng Việt) (Tagalog Tagalog) (Korean 한국어/조선말)
- Roadblocks to Communication (a recorded virtual training event), Dept. of Justice
- LEP Resource Guide for Law Enforcement, Dept. of Justice and Dept. of Homeland Security
- Advice of Rights Forms Translated into 40+ languages, Dept. of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Español for Law Enforcement, Dept. of Justice, National Institute of Justice