KING COUNTY, Wash. — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an agreement with the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) Thursday over allegations that the sheriff's office had engaged in discrimination against people who are limited English proficient.
KCSO has taken "a number of steps" to improve language access for those who speak limited English, the DOJ said. The law enforcement agency was found to be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits "race, color and national origin discrimination (including discrimination on the basis of English proficiency) by entities that receive federal financial assistance."
The agreement includes a two-year plan that will enact a series of language access supports that would improve communications between KCSO deputies and people in the community who speak limited English.
This includes the hiring of a language access program manager and coordinators at KCSO worksites, prohibiting the use of family members, bystanders or other unqualified individuals to be used for language access and developing a training program for staff.
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that our law enforcement agencies are able to protect and serve all people in their community, including crime victims, regardless of their ability to speak English fluently,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement agreement will enhance public safety, and improve delivery of language services for people with limited English proficiency in King County.”
The DOJ's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington first received a complaint in November 2021.
