April 24, 2001

Present: Carlos Aleman, Oudy Acosta Perez, Joe Barrios, Tim Drury, Joyce E. S. Figueroa, Benny Myers.

Summary of Topics Discussed:

• · Sharing with Hispanics in the community.
• · Translation with Kitsap County Sheriff's Department.
• · Are not aware of Hispanics in the legal field.
• · Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Benny Myers stated that the main contacts that the department has is with the migrant brush pickers, and whether or not they have the required permits (the brush pickers make money, their sponsors make money). Some officers are not very patient when it comes to trying to obtain the following information from the Hispanic contacts: name, DOB, address, and phone number. He said that it would be extremely helpful if the above information could get out into the Hispanic community because for the most part, the Deputies would just as soon let them go instead of booking them on miscellaneous minor offenses (it is the Deputy's discretion). They don't have time to wait for an interpreter to do the translating.
• · The following questions were brought up: how many arrested are Hispanics and/or other minorities vs. Caucasians.
• · Tim Drury stated that the disparities or discretion is taken away from the Deputies due to the language barrier.
• · That the distance for treatment is about the same between Shelton and Tacoma, and that there is bus service into Shelton.
• · Prosecutors and Judge's cannot do their job if we cannot provide the services that they are ordering.
• · Carlos Aleman said that there is a very large population of Hispanics in Pierce County. More than 100 people on their caseload suffering from alcohol and/or DV problems, and that he is still taking new clients. He said that so far the year 2001 is having more problems with the immigrant that are coming in from California. There is a 104% Hispanic growth in Pierce County, and most of them have Washington State identification cards. It is roughly (25) twenty-five miles to his office, and that they are a state certified office who offer the following services: anger management, domestic violence perpetrator's counseling, ADIS,……….. Another center will be opening in Federal Way.
• · Joe Barrios said that there is a 25% Hispanic population in Shelton, and a 10% Hispanic population in Belfair. He said that if immigration picks them up, and they have to wait that they will cut them loose instead of holding them.
• · N.S.P. - A.D.I.S. and groups, so they will talk in their own dialects. That way, they have better comprehension of what they did wrong. He is also teaching them the laws and/or rules of the land.
• · Joe Barrios is also a consultant with Mason County Jail/Maggie. He also has the backing from both the Mason County Judge's, and the Mason County Sheriff's Department.
• · Joe Barrios stated that the immigrants are pretty much done with brush picking until September. Now they are heading for Oregon to pick pinecones, and then on to California to pick in the orchards.
• · Joe Barrios stated that since June last year, (95) ninety-five people in group participating in at least (90) ninety days or more of treatment.
• · Joe Barrios stated that it is no longer going to be an issue that they cannot be there for treatment due to their work schedule, since his treatment program will work with their schedules.
• · Prevention intervention with peers in the schools. Letter of intent, and grant to take back the schools from the drug lords.
• · Coalition - out in the field, and getting information (SASSI, DAST - no priors) amended. The coalition can get this information out to the various agencies. The agency should request the complete criminal history.
• · There is a nationwide move with various insurance companies who are sponsoring a bus/cab rides available to prevent DUI's due to the (7) seven billion payout on this charge.
• · Kelly Pellon - send the Spanish version to.
• · Incentive for Defendant's to get their butt in gear if they are doing what they need to do - it is an encouraging tool.
• · There are a lot more Hispanics getting the DUI charge in addition to the DV assault charges.
• · Told of a situation that occurred when (3) three male Hispanics pulled a knife, and the steps that the officer's had to take to communicate with them through AT&T International (this service goes through Cen-Com, and is costly to use).
• · An additional point of contact for line officer's seeking Spanish translation is W.S.P. Trooper Douglas J. Malmstrom, and he can be reached at (360) 427-2180. ,li> · Bottom line is that the Court interpreters do not always help the Defendants. Decisions Reached
• · The next Domestic Violence Minority Meeting will be held on July 24, 2001 @ 2:00 PM in the Public Works Building in the third floor conference room.
• · Oudy Acosta Perez will be sending an E-mail to Maureen Kelly to see about getting Joe Barrios and Joe Raymond certified.
• · Tim Drury will let Oudy Acosta Perez know when Judge Riehl's Pracs & Pros Committee will be meeting so that she can attend (check with Dayle Crane first).
• · The Prosecutors office will refer Hispanic Defendant's to either Carlos Aleman's agency (he is willing to start Saturday sessions in Kitsap County) or to Joe Barrios' agency for their treatment.
• · We are meeting bi-monthly.

1. Joe Barrios and Joe Raymond have opened up an office together in Shelton, and are seeking to have a pilot office in Kitsap County.

2. Check on the current status of the certification process for both Joe Barrios, and Joe Raymond - advanced and/or delayed.

3. Try to get (1) one of the (6) six DV treatment agencies to help sponsor Joe Barrios so that he can complete certification - so far this has been met with resistance from the local DV treatment agencies.

4. Joe Barrios is currently looking for grant money for transportation (rides from bars, etc.). He said that there is a nation wide move from the various insurance agencies.

5. The D.V. Listing needs to be updated to include the Hispanic treatment agencies in both Mason County, and Tacoma.

6. There will be a Hispanic D.V. intervention/informational meeting in (6) six weeks, and they would like to know what is the volume of Hispanics being seen.

Meeting adjourned.