Danica's* ordeal began in the summer of 2021, when she called 911 to report that her ex-boyfriend and father of her infant had shown up at her residence in violation of a Temporary Order for Protection. Until that moment, she had thought he did not know where she lived.
When the Burien Police Department (whose services are contracted through King County Sheriff's Office) responded, they denied her the use of a qualified interpreter. This meant she could not fully explain the threat to her safety, the abuse she had suffered, and how she had been stalked and tracked by GPS monitoring devices on her car and her infant's baby carrier.
Despite her obvious distress and limited English proficiency, a qualified interpreter was not provided. Instead, the responding officer relied on the inadequate language skills of a bystander. This resulted in a police report fraught with inaccuracies, including misidentification of the suspect, who therefore remained unnamed and at-large.
Through an interpreter Danica said: "I was very scared at that time and I tried to express myself how I could, but I don't speak much English and the police officer should have gotten an interpreter."
Sherriff's office required to improve language access
The faulty report made it impossible for Danica to obtain a permanent Protection Order. She ultimately reached out to NJP for help. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, NJP attorney Sarah Thorpe responded immediately. She asked for the report to be amended, and when the Sherrif's office failed to do so, she filed a Title VI Civil Rights Complaint. Her advocacy stressed the harm caused by the lack of an interpreter and the ongoing risks to Danica.
The U.S. Department of Justice pursued the complaint. Though it took more than two years, in February 2024, the Department of Justice and the KCSO announced a settlement agreement to improve translation services. The agreement outlines a two-year plan for KCSO to improve language access, including the hiring of a language access program manager, training of deputies, and ensuring an accessible complaint process.
From rectifying the police report to securing a permanent protection order for Danica, to invoking the Civil Rights Act, NJP's approach exemplified justice in action, advancing justice for Danica and for all individuals with limited English in King County. In addressing a systemic failure of the justice system, the case and the settlement agreement reaffirmed that clear communication within the justice system is a right, not privilege.
*Name changed to protect privacy of the client.