NYPD Accused Of Discriminating Against Non-English Speakers By Withholding Translation Services

A group of non-English speaking New Yorkers are alleging unlawful discrimination by the NYPD, citing several instances of the department failing to provide legally mandated translation services, which in some cases prevented sexual assault survivors and other victims from accessing critical resources.

On Monday, Make the Road New York filed an organizational complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, which prosecutes cases that appear to violate the city's civil rights statutes. The complaint names three plaintiffs, two of whom say that they were victims of sexual harassment, and one of whom says he was assaulted by a roommate over his sexual orientation. In each case, the victims were allegedly told by police that they could not file a report in Spanish, and that their local precinct did not have anyone capable of providing interpretation.

According to Cristobal Gutierrez, a staff attorney with Make the Road, the advocacy group's organizers have witnessed dozens of similar encounters at several precincts across the city. "We're alleging that it's a systemic failure on the account of the police," Gutierrez told Gothamist.

One of the suit's plaintiffs, Iris Vega, alleges that she repeatedly tried to file a police report about a coworker who sexually assaulted her, and was told that the precinct only had English speakers available. She soon returned to work, as did her attacker, according to the complaint. Eventually, the person was arrested, but when Vega attempted to follow-up on the case, she was once again told that the department offered no interpretation services.

In another instance, Victor Sanchez says he attempted to file a report after he was "viciously assaulted" by his roommate because he was gay. He went directly from the hospital to the precinct, where he found that no one was available to take his complaint—but one officer did allegedly tell him to find somewhere else to live. Sanchez remained in the apartment for three more weeks, and was ultimately unable to file a complaint or protective order against his attacker.

The string of allegations come as the city touts a new set of foreign language policies, claiming in a press release last year that the guidelines will "ensure that people will be able to communicate with NYPD officers, no matter what language they speak." Those updates were announced in order to resolve a 2013 lawsuit, in which officers were accused of failing to provide translators in domestic abuse calls, and in some cases mocking and arresting the victims. The department also agreed to keep tabs on the use of foreign language interpretation services during investigations—something that Gutierrez says has not happened.

A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson with the city's Commission on Human Rights said the agency does not comment on open or potential law enforcement matters.