October 23, 2001

Present: Oudy Acosta Perez, Joe Barrios, Tim Drury, Tracy Flood, Dianne Juhl, Martin Knott, Ruth Loihle, Benny Myers, Sue Schultz, Joyce E. Showalter Figueroa.

Summary of Topics Discussed

• Tim Drury stated that the Prosecutor's Office for Bremerton Municipal Court, Kitsap County District Court, and Poulsbo Municipal Court are using the same case numbers for each defendant with the last (2) two numbers changing per case. They are now trying to get Bainbridge Island Municipal Court on the same system.
• Tim Drury stated that Bremerton Municipal Court is placing defendants with both a lengthy criminal history, and a high-risk level on supervised Probation.
• Tim Drury stated that Judge Doctor (Bremerton Municipal Court) is fluent in the Spanish language after having lived/worked in Guatemala for the Peace Corps. He said that it is not uncommon for Judge Doctor to explain to Spanish speaking defendants the Court requirements.
• Oudy Acosta Perez stated that she is not a state certified interpreter. However, she has been used in Court by the direction of the Judge, and she was wondering about the legality issue. Tim Drury stated that as long as she is translating "information only", and not translating for a hearing (where she could be called in as a witness) she will be ok legally to continue translating for the Court.
• Oudy Acosta Perez asked Tim Drury if there seems to be an increase of the numbers of Hispanic cases from last year and/or the need for interpreters. He stated that he believes that the numbers are up a little bit from last year. It was also stated that there is a larger demand for Tagala interpreters for the Court.
• Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Benny Myers stated that he is now the "School Resource Officer" for both Sedgwick Junior High School and for Marcus Whitman Junior High School.
• Joe Barrios, owner of "The Right Track" in Shelton will be offering a halfway house with (11) eleven beds upstairs in the facility. In order to be considered for a bed, they must comply with administration requirements, and they need to work. Treatment and AA Support Group will continued to be provided by "The Right Track".
• Oudy Acosta Perez stated that the Neighborhood Christian Center offers free dinner and spiritual gathering on Friday nights for Hispanics. Joe Barrios will contact Pastor Ron Whitney to secure a date to begin alcohol/drug treatment in Bremerton via the Neighborhood Christian Center.
• Oudy Acosta Perez brought up the lack of Spanish speaking translating resources within Kitsap County. Due to the increased Hispanic community, she questioned whether or not the local law enforcement agencies would be willing to pool their monies to hire a sub-contracted individual to translate Spanish on-call basis (with a pager), or as the need arises. Since this would be a private contract, their salary would include Court testifying time, and would probably be cheaper than the $40.00 per hour cost of using a state-certified translator.
• Martin Knott said that the various agencies would want to look at the numbers to see if it would be feasible or not to have a sub-contracted translator on-call.
• Sheriff Boyer has previously stated that his department calls Harrison Hospital's Language Bank for their translations.
• Tim Drury stated that he will be speaking with Sheriff Boyer because that is not a good source/service to use nor are they cost effective if they needed a witness to testify (they would have to track the person down, and then fly them here). Tim Drury also stated that law enforcement does not need to use a state-certified interpreter for probable cause, but they are required when there is an interrogation.
• Martin Knott stated that Bremerton Police use Sgt. Olin, a local fireman, and the AT&T Operator to do their translations. However, it would be helpful for them to have key phrases in Spanish. Benny Myers stated that a card "Spanish for Law Enforcement" has key phrases on it to assist with translation.
• Joe Barrios stated that not all Hispanics speak the Spanish language, but different dialects (Mam, etc.). Oudy Acosta Perez stated that some Hispanics only have a basic elementary education so they do not read or write the language, and that translation has to be broken down to the level of spoken language (limited Spanish).
• Tim Drury stated that a good plan would be for Cen-Com to employ (3 to 4) three to four employees that could be translators on a rotating shift basis. Martin Knott said that having a bi-lingual officer on shift would be beneficial, and that it could be used as an incentive to get officers trained.
• Dianne Juhl asked why the various law enforcement agencies are not making a concentrated effort in recruiting both bi-lingual and/or minority officers. Oudy Acosta Perez stated that for the most part Hispanics are lacking educational qualifications because education for the most part was not an option. Ruth Loihle stated that most Hispanics are more than willing to be trained.
• Joe Barrios stated that he sub-contracts, and that he only bills Mason County Sheriff's and Shelton Police Departments for services rendered.
• Oudy Acosta Perez stated that she watched a program regarding emergency dispatch, and the disparity of time delays between non-Hispanics (90 seconds) and Hispanics (4 minutes where the individual is placed on hold, then the interpreter is introduced, and then the call is taken care of). Benny Myers stated that Cen-Com can not clear calls, only law enforcement can.
• Oudy Acosta Perez stated that after she is certified to provide DV treatment, she not be unable to provide services due to conflict of interest. Hispanic victims in high danger can/will be referred to Casa de Esparanza in Oregon, where they can receive services in Spanish. As per some reports agencies in Seattle and Tacoma are no longer trusted by Hispanic victims. Local Hispanics are afraid of what they consider to be corrupt local government as in their country (C.P.S., immigration, local law enforcement, Y.W.C.A., etc.). Tim Drury stated that this is frustrating because "we want to give services to people who don't want them". Oudy Acosta Perez reminded him is not only the Hispanics victims but victims in general.
• Oudy Acosta Perez stated the same individuals appear to be attending every week to El Centro de la Familia, and they will be the ones to spread the word to the rest of the Hispanic community. They all seem to be residing in the Burwell Street area, and are related in some way to each other. She is willing to attempt/become a liaison between her group (El Centro de la Familia) and Bremerton Police. Both Johanna Keller, and Oudy Acosta Perez are gaining their trust, and they call Oudy on the pager to bring up topics they want to discuss at their next Monday meeting. They have also begun to trust some professionals (Dr. Zapata, and DDS. Tan for example). Women are attending the Monday meetings without the fear that immigration will be waiting for them. Hispanics in general, are afraid of local government and/or what may happen to them and/or their families. She plans to introduce various law enforcement/local professionals to the group in order to start some trust via communication with each other - and building trust takes time.

• Oudy Acosta Perez stated that ADVAC meetings are going well with the smaller group, and there were individuals in attendance that were translating from Spanish to Mam for other individuals that only speak Mam. The next ADVAC meeting will be held on December 21, 2001 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM, First Floor Conference Room.
• The Kitsap County Domestic Violence Task Force Board Of Directors would like representation from the Minority Services Group. Dianne Juhl has volunteered to be the interim liaison, and she can mentor a replacement. Joe Barrios made the motion to accept her as the volunteer and/or recruit her replacement, and Joyce E. Showalter Figueroa seconded the motion.
• The next Minority Services Meeting will be held on January 22, 2002 @ 2:00 PM in the Public Works Building in the first floor conference room.

Action Items

1. Johanna Keller is currently busy working on a new grant through the Kitsap County Health Department.

2. Martin Knott said that we might want to check with Jefferson County law enforcement agencies to see how they are handling their interpreting issues.

3. Joe Barrios will be meeting with Pastor Ron Whitney to see about opening a satellite treatment agency office in Kitsap County at: Neighborhood Christian Center, 1003 Fifth Street, Bremerton, WA 98337, telephone number (360) 377-7292.

4. Oudy Acosta Perez offered an open invitation to the various professionals gathered to visit the El Centro de la Familia on Monday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm so that she could introduce them to the clientele.

5. Dianne Juhl will be bringing in the information and/or requirements to mentor/replacement for Kitsap County Domestic Violence Task Force Board Of Directors.

Meeting adjourned.