The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) has unveiled a new plan to provide better support for offenders who face language barriers. The Language Access Plan aims to facilitate improved rehabilitation and more successful community reentry for those who speak Languages Other Than English (LOTE) or are Limited English Proficient (LEP). According to a press release from NCDAC, this initiative seeks to enhance rehabilitation outcomes and bring down recidivism rates by ensuring meaningful access to their services.
The NCDAC serves a large population, managing about 31,500 offenders in correctional institutions and supervising over 84,000 in community settings. The development of this plan, acknowledges the wide array of linguistic needs within these groups. Detailed in the release from NCDAC, "the plan is designed to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities for offenders, their families, and the public who speak Languages Other Than English (LOTE) or are Limited English Proficient (LEP), with the goal of enhancing rehabilitation outcomes and reducing recidivism rates."
Compliance with federal laws and a commitment to non-discrimination are at the forefront of the Language Access Plan. It lines up with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Executive Order 13166, which is focused on “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), as mentioned on the NCDAC website. This shows NCDAC's dedication not only to the individuals it supervises but also to upholding equitable access for all.
The plan provides NCDAC staff clear guidelines, tools, and resources to better engage with LEP offenders and their families. Training programs and resources to support these efforts are currently being rolled out, aimed at equipping staff with the necessary skills for effective communication. "Training programs, resources, and tools to support this initiative are currently in development," the NCDAC statement confirms.
