Dec. 13,  2002

Addressee

     RE:  Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited
          English Proficiency

Dear Addressee:

       On June 18, 2002, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued
final guidance to recipients of DOJ federal financial assistance
regarding the provision of meaningful access to limited English
proficient (LEP) individuals. The guidance, which explains
existing recipient obligations under Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 and the Title VI regulations, is attached
for your information and further distribution to your membership.
The guidance, along with a host of technical assistance and
information on LEP, can also be found at http://www.lep.gov.
I am writing you to ask your assistance and to offer our own.

       First, the Civil Rights Division would appreciate your
assistance in getting the word out to your members -- whether
they be law enforcement agencies, courts, corrections agencies,
or other recipients of DOJ assistance -- about the need to
provide meaningful access to LEP individuals. To that end,
I have enclosed a short article that could be included in any
newsletters or other information that you send to your members.

        Second, the Coordination and Review Section (COR) of
the Civil Rights Division is able to offer speakers who can
discuss the guidance at conferences or other member events.
COR would also be interested in working with your organization
in identifying model language access plans and practices.
I encourage you to tap into these resources.

Thank you very much for your assistance in ensuring
meaningful access for LEP individuals. If you have any
questions, or would like to work with the Division in the ways
mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact Merrily A.
Friedlander, Section Chief, Coordination and Review Section, at
(202) 307-2222, or Merrily.A.Friedlander@usdoj.gov.

                                   Sincerely,

                                       \s\

                                   Ralph F. Boyd, Jr.
                                   Assistant Attorney General

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