A police officer must provide the same level of safety and protection to a non-English speaking indivudual as provided to others. In the process, police departments also protect themselves.

Language Barriers Make Police Officers Less Effective
Communicating across language barriers is challenging even under the best of circumstances. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency room professionals often encounter vulnerable non-English speaking people in crisis situations, when the need for accurate communication is most critical.

Even interactions in more mundane circumstances can go awry as a result of impaired communication, and severe problems can result. Consider the routine traffic stop. When an officer is unable to communicate effectively during such a stop, he or she cannot transmit vital information, including the reason for the stop, the need for identification, the meaning of a written citation, and an explanation of the proper course of conduct. Better communication can reduce needless anxiety for both the officer and the non-English speaking person during an encounter. The importance of reliable communication is apparent in a variety of situations. Consider the implications for domestic violence enforcement if responding officers rely on an English-speaking child, or even a batterer, to communicate with, or on behalf of, a non-English speaking domestic assault victim. Consider the valuable time lost in apprehending a rapist or robber if officers cannot effectively communicate with a victim or witness at the scene.

Thus, the need for good communication in life-threatening circumstances is not the only concern. Strained communication between officers and a nonEnglish speaking persons can compromise the integrity of the judicial process. Numerous real-life examples illustrate the pitfalls of a lack of language preparedness in a variety of first-responder interactions, from the routine to the deadly.

Federal Law Requires Police to Address Language Barriers
Beyond the common sense reasons for addressing language barriers in police work, there are laws obligating police departments to ensure that non-English speaking people can access their services. As a condition of receiving federal money, police departments and other recipients of federal financial assistance must comply with certain legal obligations, such as adherence to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations.

Our Russian interpreters are here to help. From providing Russian-speaking role players for military and law-enforcement exercises to document translations and simultaneous interpretation at conferences, training seminars and field operations, you can count on us to eliminate the language barrier.