Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Michigan

Foreign language barrier

Any information regarding a language barrier and entrance by police officers? If someone cannot speak English and the police know about it, what are the procedures and are there any legal cases to review regarding such a situation? Do the police have a duty to inform such an individual in his/her own language?


Asked on 4/22/02, 10:26 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Foreign language barrier

If the police are executing a valid search or arrest warrant their only obligation is to announce their presence in English and knock before entering.

They have no obligation to provide an interpretor unless they intend to question the person in another language.

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Answered on 4/23/02, 1:56 pm


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