Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 510.08
1 OF 3
510.08
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT PERSONS
11-10-08
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to es tablish guidelines for Department employees to follow when providing
services to, or interacting with , individuals who are Li mited English Proficient (LEP) or hearing
impaired.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sa cramento Police Department that employees take reasonable steps to
ensure timely and equal access to a ll individuals by making a good faith effort to obtain the use of an
interpreter when it is necessary to communicate with people who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or
hearing impaired.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. This General Order, and the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan, implements specific
policy that requires personnel to know its contents and follow its guidelines when
interacting with members of the LEP community.
B. DEFINITION
1. DEPARTMENT INTERPRETER - A department em ployee who is fluent in one or more
foreign languages, or sign language, and is li sted as such in the Language Locator.
2. LANGUAGE LOCATOR - A list of department employees who are fluent in a foreign
language, or sign language.
3. LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT (LEP) - Indi viduals who do not speak English as their
primary language, and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand
English.
C. COMMUNICATING WITH LEP PERSONS
1. When communicating with LEP persons or the hearing impaired, employees:
a. should not use family members, nei ghbors, friends, volunteers, bystanders or
children to interpret for a LEP person unless exigent circumstances exist thataffects the safety of the officers, the public, or would delay the apprehension of a
suspect or preservation of evidence.
b. upon stabilizing the scene, shall determine the language of the individual by
using language identification cards or assistance from the AT&T Language Lineservices.
c. if assigned to the Office of Operati ons, notify the Communications Center to
request an on-duty department interpreter through the Language Locator in theCAD system, or
d. if assigned to other than the Office of Operations, contact the Personnel Services
Division to make a request if they wish to contact a department interpreter
through the Language Locator, or
e. utilize the AT&T Language Line as specified below.
2. If the LEP person indicates that he/she does not need or cannot use an interpreter,
employees shall ensure that the LEP pers on understands what is being said and what
they are agreeing to do. In that case, t he SPD employee does not have to obtain an
interpreter.
D. AT&T LANGUAGE LINE
1. General information
a. Employees shall use the AT&T Language Line when it is necessary to
communicate with LEP persons and Depa rtment interpreters are unavailable.
b. Interpreter services for over 150 languages and dialects are available at all
hours.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 510.08
2 OF 3c. All employees shall be provided with a Language Line card and a Quick
Reference Guide (QRG) card with instructions for use, the AT&T 800 phone number, and the Sacramento Police Department’s access code (client ID number). (1) SPD employees accessing the AT&T Language Line services for other
than 911 caller emergencies at the Co mmunications Center, shall utilize a
separate access code (client ID number) than the State-reimbursed codefor 911 operations.
2. Features
a. When employees have contact with an LE P person, employees can dial the AT&T
Language Line from any available telephone. An interpreter will relay information between the person and the employee.
b. Employees may pass the phone/handset back and forth or use available
extension or speaker equipment.
3. Training
a. AT&T Language Line provides training serv ices per the contract, including a
video tape and handout designated for employee retention.
b. Employees shall view the video tape and receive a handout.c. The Training Division shall coordinate the LEP training.
4. Accountability
a. Employees shall provide the AT&T Language Line operator with:
(1) the Department access code (client ID) number.(2) the employee’s last name.(3) the employee’s four di git badge/identific ation number.
b. The Fiscal Section shal l maintain a monthly summary of charges for Language
Line services used by employees.
5. Use guidelines
a. AT&T Language Line services are intended for initial contacts and preliminary
investigations, including interviews with victims, witnesses, and suspects.
b. AT&T Language Line services do not meet court certified interpreter
requirements.
c. When calling the AT&T Language Line, employees shall :
(1) give language request to or request assistance from the operator in
determining the LEP person’s language.
(2) give the Department access code/client ID number, the employee’s last
name, and the employee’s four di git badge/identification number.
(3) include the interpeter’s ID number in the employee’s report.(4) inform the interpreter exactly what information is needed. Officers should
communicate through interpreters using the first person (e.g. “please tell me your name, address”, rather than “please ask him his name, address”).(a) When the interpreter has obtained the information, they will
instruct the subject to