Summary
"U.S. Census Data From 2006 show that almost 20 percent of Americans speak a language other than English at home. About 9 percent can be described as limited-English proficient (LEP)—they have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.1 LEP individuals can be immigrants or people born in the United States. With large numbers of LEP individuals living in the United States, the majority of law enforcement agencies nationwide now have daily contact with people who do not speak English.2 Many law enforcement officers find these interactions frustrating because they do not have the tools or resources to communicate effectively. Communication is essential to the development of partnerships that make community policing an effective strategy for ensuring public safety. Community policing programs, in which law enforcement officers partner with community members to identify and solve problems, cannot work well when officers and residents fail to understand each other. Without dialog, police cannot effectively conduct investigations, build community trust, or ensure that victims will report crime. If police do not get an accurate description of problems, their responses may be unsuccessful or counterproductive."--Page 5.