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Article: It could save your life. (learning Spanish)
- Article from:
- Corrections Today
- Article date:
- July 1, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 American Correctional Association, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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About 13 percent of the state and federal inmate population is Hispanic, making it vitally important for officers to know how to communicate in Spanish. Correctional officers and probation and parole officers who take the time to learn what I call "Survival Spanish" can reduce the potential for a misunderstanding that could threaten or cost a life.
Officers who have mastered Survival Spanish have the ability to:
* commit to memory basic, succinct commands and phrases that can make the difference between a simple request and a deadly confrontation;
* promote their own safety and improve relations with offenders;
* ask an offender to ...