Communication Barriers and Dynamics

Communication Barriers and Dynamics Paper

Whitney Cervantez

12/19/2018

CJS 205

Derrick Horton

There are various methods for overcoming language barriers as well as situational barriers when communicating with people in a criminal justice environment that I will mention. Also, I will discuss the use of certified interpreters in a criminal justice setting. Lastly, I will explain a couple of ways to communicate when interacting with people who may have different customs and values.

Harmony in a diverse workplace, what works and what’s right? There isn’t a checklist for people however, it tends to be asked “How do we approach this culture and diverse group?” Example to ask, “How would you approach an African American about this issue?” For us to provide a checklist for that kind of scenario means we would be perpetuating an already existing bias, stereotypes and prejudices which we cannot do. When approaching different cultures and diverse groups you approach the said group with a blank slate, no biases, must be impartial and respectful. In the workforce this has to be met not only for in person encounters but also for online encounters as well, it can be tricky but with constant cultural and diversity training we can get better at essentially coexisting. In the workforce we have our beliefs, but they cannot get in place of our judgment when making decisions that do not pertain to us on a personal level and we must be transactional. To assume that everyone’s first language was English we meet is a counterproductive assumption. This holds to witnesses, victims and suspects the same, for us to do our jobs effectively and safely, the sworn and civilian law enforcement personnel must be able to communicate with the people they serve. America is not just the home for American, english speaking citizens we have a growing number of immigrants who we will approach. Law enforcement agencies of diverse sizes and means around the country are responding with a variety of promising and effective new strategies for communicating with those who speak little or no English. Even where police departments and sheriff's’ offices have limited and fewer resources with few or no bilingual officers, some have found ways to bridge the language gap and make services more accessible. Agencies are growing and using pragmatic methods to translate justice.

A means of translating justice can be by using certified interpreters. In the criminal justice setting with limited english proficiency. According to Vera Institute of Justice Clark County, Ohio Agency Clark County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office County Population is 140,000 with a sworn staff of 128, bilingual Deputies are only 1 Spanish speaker working part time. Bilingual civilian staff there are none and the immigrant population are Mexicans who make up most of the new immigrant population. Ohio’s key challenge mentions Latino seasonal migrant workers are now remaining in Ohio year-round due to the low cost of living and employment opportunities with local factories and the agricultural industry; however there are few billing resources in the county. Though law enforcement works in an environment of policies and procedures Ohio’s Clark County Sheriff’s Office developed a language access policy and plan. This plan recognizes that a growing number of Latino immigrants reside in the county year-round rather than just during the peak migrant worker season, the sheriff’s office purchased handheld translators, secured a telephonic interpretation contract, and developed a volunteer interpreter roster of bilingual community members and city staff. All this was done in conjunction with creating a language access policy, ensuring that staff uses the new language assistance services effectively. This year there was a conference that focused on how language disparities affect already vulnerable individuals (victims of human trafficking and sexual assault, victims of gang violence, and unaccompanied minors) as they navigate healthcare and justice systems. I was not able to attend for I found out afterward, but I gathered more information on the subject. Sex Trafficking is generally a more global term used to describe the myriad ways women and girls are bought and sold into prostitution. There is no distinction between prostitution and trafficking. Both terms involve the sexual exploitation of women and girls for commercial profit, thus the term commercial sexual exploitation is also used. The huge commercial industry that has been developed to create the supply to meet the demand for women and girls to be prostituted is referred commonly to as the “sex industry.” When writing a previous paper, I mentioned that Texas, California and New York were the top three states for human sex trafficking. At one point in a previous class there was a video we watched where a man who was involved in human sex trafficking said that people “were just meat.” He was a coyote (In short, human smuggling centers on the willful, illegal transportation of migrants into another country. The word coyotes originated in the early 19th century, where it was used to describe a person that employed Mexican immigrants for labor in the United States.) and explained how he would entice those in Mexico who had a very real idea of what poverty is, used that to gain their trust to bring them into America where they were not freed but instead exploited. The officers at the borders are trained to detect signs of human trafficking by not just spoken words but body language. When it comes to observing and interpreting foreign language and body language it takes the knowledge of interpreters to help officers to see the differences in Americans and Mexicans.

Essentially culture is a set of shared values that a group of people holds. Such values affect how we think and act and, more importantly, the kind of criteria by which we judge others. Cultural meanings render some behaviors as right and or wrong. In order to take on a position to confront people, issues, matters and situations being able to find out what our biases are helps us to see where we need to work on. This is important because Every single aspect of global communication is influenced by cultural differences. An interesting example is where some industrialized nations rely heavily on electronic technology and emphasize written messages over oral or face-to-face communication, this is due to the choice of medium they use to communicate, and we notice the undertones in each setting. The US, Canada and UK exemplify this trend but in Japan where they have access to the latest technology still relies more on face-to-face communications than on the written mode. In some countries non- verbal communication is what is processed over spoken word. They watch one’s mannerisms, empathy, movements, watching our silences and pauses. It’s said U.S. business leaders may fall into is a (costly) disregard for the importance of building and maintaining personal relationships when dealing with individuals from high-context cultures. One way to approach these diverse situations with diverse people and their diverse beliefs is as mentioned earlier to be a blank slate. Conduct interviews with probing and direct questions, do not conduct interviews in an emotional state that is biased towards one’s diversities. be respectful of cultural practices, attitudes and beliefs. e.g. removing shoes before entering a home. We must be able to show consideration, e.g. think of the needs of others from their point of view, be polite, e.g. use the preferred title and the appropriate tone of voice, listen to others address each other, show genuine interest and respect a person’s right to privacy and confidentiality.

As I conclude I want to mention that justice is truth, undeniable truth. However, justice, the drive for a virtuous society is subjective which is why we have laws that defend someone’s right to self-defense. A murder may put someone in prison for life or they get no penalty depending on the situation. We are not here to claim someone guilty or not guilty but instead get all the information necessary for the courts, attorneys and juries to make that determination. The most important thing an office can do is to remember they are in a position that is constantly adapting while being able to act accordingly to protocol and procedures. Being able to jump over the hurdles of communication barriers and their dynamics mean we are able to speak to victims, witnesses and suspects formulate a method that works for each and every specific, changing cultural diversities.

References:

Overcoming Language Barriers: Solutions for Law Enforcement(2007). Retrieved from https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/overcoming-language-barriers-solutions-for-law-enforcement/legacy_downloads/Overcoming_Language_Barriers_FINAL.pdf

Bruedigam, D. (2018). Human trafficking addressed at UTSA's International Translation Day. Retrieved from https://www.utsa.edu/today/2018/09/story/InternationalTranslationDay.html

VICTIMS OF PROSTITUTION AND TRAFFICKING: A RAPE CRISIS CENTER RESPONSE(). Retrieved from http://chrome-extension://bpmcpldpdmajfigpchkicefoigmkfalc/views/app.html

Goman, C. K. (2011). How Culture Controls Communication. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/11/28/how-culture-controls-communication/#63c51510263b