Language Justice as Police Accountability

Sor Juana valued intellectual exchange and recognized that language barriers prevent full participation in systems of authority. In policing, language justice means that interpretation and translation services are not optional luxuries but essential protections ensuring that non-English speakers have equal access to information, equal voice in encounters, and equal protection under law. A person detained without adequate interpretation cannot understand charges, rights, or police requests, creating vulnerability to coercion and misunderstanding. Language justice in policing demands professional interpretation (not family members), multilingual officers or services, translated materials for all critical documents, and accountability when language barriers lead to adverse outcomes. This concept further implies that police departments working in multilingual communities should reflect that linguistic diversity in hiring and that officers develop cultural and linguistic competence. Language justice recognizes that communication shapes justice outcomes, and that policing systems must actively work to eliminate barriers preventing full, informed participation by non-dominant language communities.