Limited English Proficiency Resource Document:
September 21, 2004
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
The United State Justice Department, is in the process of conducting a compliance review of the Miami Dade Corrections Dept, giving the agency 30 days ( Jan 2008 ) to comply with request for information.
The LOA-FLA has had as it's core issues services for Latinos within the confines of Miami Dade Correctional jail facilities. Services ranging not only inmates but general public and recruitment as well. Since August 2004 the LOA-FLA has requested simple services to the Latino community to slow or no avail. Issues such as:
Inmate handbook in Spanish this item was finally completed October 2007, 3 years and 2 months from our original request to the Assistant County Manager Office.
Inmate Orientation Video in Spanish: pending issue.
Visitor orientation video lobby of jail facilities: pending issue.
Latino recruitment: pending issue.
Inmate commissary translated in Spanish: pending issue.
Official Spanish translation for medical services: pending issue.
Creating the Miami Dade Corrections web-site with the capability for Spanish translation for citizen access: Pending issue.
The list goes on and on. The LOA-FLA has meet with County officials and elected official on this matter with little or no results. With a Hispanic community of over 60% in Miami Dade County not having these and other important services is simple crazy. Miami Dade County has made it an effort not to provide these Latino services because they just don't care. Their actions speak for themselves. We will continue to keep you update on the Compliance review.
"In God We Trust"
6 comments:
January 26, 2006
Daphne Felten-Green
Special Counsel, Office for Civil Rights
Office of Justice Programs
United States Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street, N.W.
(202) 305-3010
(202) 616-9865 (fax number)
Dear Community Group Representatives,
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), is
responsible for enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which prohibit recipients of Federal financial
assistance from discriminating in the delivery of services or benefits on the bases of race,
color, national origin, religion, and sex.
As part of OCR’s duty to enforce these statutes and regulations, it selected the Tampa Police
Department (“TPD”), a recipient of Federal financial assistance, for a civil rights compliance
review. The review will focus on whether TPD is taking reasonable steps to provide
meaningful access to limited English proficiency (“LEP”) persons. An LEP individual is a
person whose first language is not English and who has a limited ability to speak, read, write,
or understand English.
As part of our review, OCR is hosting a private roundtable discussion on Friday March 24,
2006, from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., in the Martin Luther King Room at the John F. Germany
Library. The library is located at 900 North Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL 33602.
The purpose of this discussion is for OCR to consult with community group representatives
regarding the manner in which TPD provides language services to its LEP community. As
such, neither private individuals, the TPD, nor the press are invited to attend this event. The
meeting is a private meeting, and is simply an attempt by OCR to engage in a candid
discussion with group representatives on the positive and negative experiences LEP persons
have had with TPD due to their limited English proficiency. These meetings also, generally,
serve as excellent forums for organizations to network with agencies engaged in similar work.
To prepare for this discussion, OCR would like your organization to consult with LEP persons
in your community over the next month so that you can provide OCR with anecdotal
information with respect to their experiences with the TPD. Specifically, OCR would like to
learn more about whether language barriers have impacted LEP persons’ interactions with
TPD officers in the context of emergency and non-emergency telephone calls, traffic stops,
interrogations, investigations, arrests, booking and intake, crime prevention activities,
community outreach, interactions in precinct lobbies, and citizen complaints. Enclosed is a
copy of the meeting agenda.
If your organization is interested in participating in this event, please provide me with a reply
e-mail by March 10, 2006, indicating the name and title of the individual(s) that will attend.
If your organization cannot attend but wants to comment on this issue, please send such
correspondence to my attention via U.S. mail, facsimile or electronic mail. See above for
my contact information. Finally, if you know of any other organization that might be
interested in attending this meeting, please feel free to forward this email, including the
attachment, to that organization. However, because this is a private meeting, please “cc” me
on any such emails, so that I may be aware of any additional organizations that might be
interested in attending or that have decided to attend. Please send email to me at Daphne.
Felten-Green@usdoj.gov.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Daphne Felten-Green
Special Counsel, OCR
E-mail to Mayor Alvarez
Re: Miami-Dade Corrections Recruitment)
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007
18:19:06 -0400
From: "Garrett, Linda H.
To: president@loafla.org
CC: "Alvarez, Carlos (Mayor's Office)" Morales, Denis (Mayor's Office)" Burgess, George (CMO)"
"Hudak, Alina T. (CMO)" Smith, Tara (CMO)", "Fernandez, Gladys (CMO)" @Ryan, Timothy(MDCR)" Guevara, Marydell (MDCR)"
Fernandez, Margarita(CMO)" Klopp, Lisa (CMO)
Dear President Martinez:
I am in receipt of your e-mail to Mayor Carlos Alvarez, in which you express your concerns about our
targeted recruitment efforts.
While there does not appear to be a problem with the number of applicants for the position of
Correctional Officer (over 5,000 in the past two years), we share your concern that information must
be disseminated throughout our diverse community to increase interest in employment with the
Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. Please be aware that in addition to our
own efforts, we are also working with the Employee Relations Department and their new approaches
to help us in this area.
Within your email, you also indicated that the telephone number 786-263-JOBS had been
disconnected. While this is not the case, it does appear that there were problems. This concern has been resolved, and a procedure is now in place to test the phone line regularly. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.
Again, I welcome your assistance in sharing this information with members of our diverse community as well as discussing any ideas you may have.
Please feel free to contact me at (786)263-6010 or Acting Assistant Director Nancy Vinock at (786) 263-5890.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Timothy P. Ryan
Director
Miami Dade Corrections
Sept 15, 2006
Finally Miami Dade Corrections celebrates Hispanic Heritage on time. Hispanic Heritage celebration
was enacted by Congress under Public Law 100-402, which authorized and requested the President to
issue annually a proclamation designating September 15 through October 15 as "National Hispanic
Heritage Month."
Congress intent was to honor the Latino community in the United States. Of course Latinos have been
a big part of the United States culture and history. Many of our towns, cities and states are named in
Spanish giving cause to our history. The Latino community is also one of the most diversified cultures
in the world. Hispanic are White, Black, Asian, Indian, Jews, Catholic, Christian, a multi pot of races.
Lets look at the history of Hispanic Heritage within Miami Dade Corrections. From the inception of the
agency 1970 to 2000 (30 years) no official celebration is conducted in complete violation of Public Law
100-402. Many leaders of Miami Dade Corrections felt no reason to celebrate Hispanic Heritage.
In 1996 Latino Officers within Miami Dade Corrections organized to form (H.A.C.O) Hispanic
Association of Correctional Officers. This group became a major force to be reckon with. The
membership reached over 600 strong. Even with such numbers and vision the organization fell to the
waste side with personal motives which killed the organization. It should be noted at the time no one
said nothing about Public Law 100-402.
In November 2000 disenfranchise Latinos looking for a voice turned to Alexander Martinez a former
leader of HACO to express the Latino out cry. Thus, Mr. Martinez issued an e-mail to then Miami Dade
County Manger Steve Shiver expressing outrage from Miami Dade Correctional refusal in celebrating
what was the Law of the land. Shortly after then Miami Dade Corrections Director Lois Spears called
Mr. Martinez to apologize on behalf of Miami Dade Corrections for not celebrating the event. Mr. Martinez
advised Director Spears "don't apologize to me, apologize to the many Latinos in the agency". That
apologize never happen.
Today Miami Dade Corrections celebrated another Hispanic Heritage event but for the first time during
the Federal mandated time frame September 15, to October 15,. Most of the time they would celebrate
at the end of October just to add to the frustration. We take great pride in Interim Marydell Guevara
leadership in celebrating our event on time and with honor to all Latinos in the agency.
Interim Director Marydell Guevara born in New York of Cuban parents has come up via the ranks to the
present position. Many don't want the possibility of the first Latino Director, especially Latina. We
support any Latino that Miami Dade County picks as Director. Maybe they have the right one!
Actions Speak Louder Than Words.
www.loafla.org
11.03.2006
As the year comes to a rapid close the Latino Officers Association Florida see another year gone by with not
many results within Miami Dade Corrections Dept. With issues that seriously impact over 60% of the community
nothing seems to move forward.
Then a beam of light appeared with a new Interim Director and a hope for a new outside professional Director.
We like to share what these important issues impacting the Latino community are. Before looking at the issues,
lets give our sincere appreciation to those with the willingness to serve. We strongly believe that Actions Speak
Louder Than Words, which is our motto.
1. Inmate handbook in Spanish.
2. ICTV broadcasting a orientation video for inmates and Visitors in Spanish
3. Aggressive staff recruitment within the Latino community. (TV, Radio, Chamber of commerce.
4. Spanish speaking P.I.O
5. Spanish translation on the web site explaining how to leave funds for inmates, Issue a Complaint
6. Use of Miami Dade T.V. For Corrections with regards to community education and recruitment.
7. Latino community outreach with Miami Dade Corrections.
8. Liaison with other law enforcement agency
9. Plus much more.
During the months ahead we will give in-depth explanation to each issue. We want to give our readers an
example of how things in Miami Dade Corrections have run in the past and the command mind set. For this
example we turned to the word of God.
Judge: 21:24/25
“At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own
inheritance. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
Till next week
Latino Officers Association Florida
www.loafla.org
Post Office Box 44-0581
Miami, Florida 33144
1.877.466.8741
As report by Miami Dade Corrections 2005: census report for 2000 57.8% Latino
Ranks Males / Female Hispanic
Overall: 2400 / 100%
White, 8%? Black 70%?, Latino 21%?,
I am in receipt of your recent correspondence regarding Latino representation in the Mimi Dade County
Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. The following information is provided in response to your
inquires:
1. Census information with regards to Latinos for each rank, which are the following Officer, Corporal,
Sergeant,
Lieutenant, Captain, Chief, Assistant Director, Deputy Director & Director within the Miami Dade
Corrections
Department.
Correctional Officers 296
Correctional Corporal 27
Correctional Sergeant 26
Correctional Lieutenant 5
Correctional Captain 2
Corrections Division Chief 4
Assistant Director 0
Deputy Director 1
Department Director 0
2. The name of the Hispanic liaison Officer assigned to this agency
Our agency does not have a position of Hispanic Liaison Officer.
3. Does your agency have Spanish speaking information operators?
Our agency utilizes various staff, including those who speak Spanish, to provide information to the public.
If
needed, the assistance of a Spanish- speaking employee is obtained.
4. Does your agency issue inmate brochure in Spanish?
Our inmate handbooks is printed in English, Spanish and Creole.
5. Does your agency provide Spanish translation on your web-site?
Our agency, like most in not all other County agencies, Does not provide Spanish translation on our
web-site. However, Spanish-speaking members of the public may access certain information of interest by
clicking on the " Informacion en espanol" link on the miamidade.gov web site.
Sincerely,
Charles J. Mcray
Director
The Director has made an effort in promoting Latinos to top administration stops such as Deputy Director,
Chief's, Captains, long over due but the hiring practices is still lagging. Recently the department created a
recruitment team to target Latinos but was removed after a month. The reason giving for the removal of the
Latino committee was that the urgency of the department, was greater than the Latino recruitment
committee.
Currently the committee is made of up to 16 personnel 9 being low ranking officers with no input and the
rest
including 3 Assistant Directors and a whopping half a million dollars in salary. As you see in the letter
issued by
the Director he fails to answer the census question by not providing the census breakdown with total
department
figures......
Ranking D
Hispanic liaison / P.I.O: No
Web-site Spanish translation: No
Spanish speaking operator: yes (but the system is automated once your transferred to your call location
their is
limited to no translation.
Brochure in Spanish: No
Miami Dade Corrections Web-site
Sun, 4 Mar 2007 14:00:20 -0800 (PST)
From: "Latino Officers Association Florida" View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Miami Dade Corrections (re: Request for information)
To: "Ryan, Timothy (MDCR)"
CC: "loa fla" <
Director Ryan:
Thank you for responding to our request, we our humbled. As for our organization the Latino Officers Association
Florida (www.loafla.org) was charted in 2002 under Florida registration number N02-006250 and 501 c status
Federal ID # 20-1009789.
Our parent organization is the National Latino Officers Association of America ( www.nloaus.org) which was
charted in 1996 within the confines of the New York City Police Department.
Our association advocates for the Latino community both sworn and civilian within the law enforcement
community. Our objective is to empower the Latino with regards to entry level opportunities in law enforcement as
well as career enhancement. Moreover making sure that the Latino community is served.
In 2005 the Latino Officers Association sent you a request for information regarding our rating system survey of
which Orange County Corrections received a D rating ( http://www.loafla.org/orangecorrections.html )
We can assure you that Miami Dade Corrections is not the only law enforcement agencies being asked these very
important question. Our rating system included over 100 agencies in Florida. Our findings and grading will be
published during Hispanic Heritage month ( September 15, to October 15). The Latino Officers Association will
aggressively pursue our findings with other Latino groups such as LULAC, Hispanic Congressional Caucus,
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Church groups and the media.
The National Latino Officers Association of America will also aid us in our finding by aggressively seeking
prosecution of those agencies which don't comply with our lawful public information inquiry.
As for the other groups in South Florida, I can assure you they are many but not with our core issues in mind. We
have a Mutual of Understanding agreement with UCOF and continue to work on issues which impact the Latino
community.
I hope this answered your question, we would be honored to meet with you about our core issues, which as you
may know impact the Latino community which make up of over 60% of Miami Dade County.
If you need any other information please feel free to contact the
LOA-FLA Executive Vice President Angel Queipo at 239.633.2293
Respectfully and my God continue to bless you,
"Proverb 21:12/13 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin. If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
Alexander Martinez
President LOA-FLA
www.lofla.org
1.877.466.8741
CC: NLOAUS Chairman Anthony Miranda
President Ed Nieves UCOF
LOA-FLA Executive Board.
Hispanic Caucus
"Ryan, Timothy (MDCR)" wrote:
Dear President Martinez:
I will be forwarding your request to our Public Information Officer, Ms. Janelle Hall, 786-263-6109. Some of the
information may be available, while other may not. Upon response, please feel free to contact her for details.
As an aside, I am new to southern Florida and I must express a certain amount of confusion regarding your
organization. There are seemingly, at least one, and maybe two other groups/associations, that have similar
sounding names and have contacted me regarding similar information. Although certainly not required, but if
possible, would you please provide me with information as to how your organization fits with these and the national
associations. The goal would be to insure that we might not be sending out duplicate information nor being
inconsistent with what we do provide.
Thanks and I hope the information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Tim Ryan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Latino Officers Association Florida Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 2:20 PM
To: Ryan, Timothy (MDCR)
Cc: Guevara, Marydell (MDCR)
Subject: Miami Dade Corrections
February 28, 2007
Dear Director Ryan:
It is the pleasure of the Latino Officers Association Florida to make contact with your office. We know the
importance of your duties in representing the community.
The Latino Officers Association Florida is a non-profit 501 c organization made up of law enforcement officers from
around the State. The LOA-FLA is currently conducting it’s 2nd annual police rating system for 2006.
The LOA-FLA rating system was created to evaluate law enforcement services being issued to the Latino
community. Understanding that the Latino community is the fastest growing ethnic group in Florida , we developed
this system. Information obtain is then transmitted to the Latino community using various methods.
It is this reason we respectfully request guidance in obtain under public law (Florida Statue 119) and Federal
informational laws the following records:
Census information with regards to each ranks ethnicity in your agency from Officer to Director.
The name of the Latino liaison for your agency.
How many Latino events did your agency attended in 2006? If so please name.
If your agency has Spanish speaking emergency operators?
Within your agency web site is it offered in Spanish?
What was the agency budget for 2006?
How many if any Latinos were hired by your agency in 2006?
How many Latinos in your agency were promoted in 2006, please state positions.
How many Latinos were hired to attend the academy in 2006?
Did your agency receive any Federal funding in 2006.
Your attention in this matter is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns about our rating system
please feel free to contact us.
Respectfully,
Alexander Martinez
President Latino Officers Association Florida
Post Office Box 44-0581
Miami, Florida 33144
1.877.466.8741
www.loafla.org
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