El Concilio/Council for the Spanish Speaking Leads Collaborative Solution for Victims of Abuse

El Concilio-Council for the Spanish Speaking, Haven Women’s Center, and California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) met with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department in March to urge a solution to obstacles that prevent victims of abuse from obtaining copies of police reports. Stanislaus Sheriff Adam Christianson reports that the Sheriff’s Department has moved forward on these recommendations to empower victims.

The Sheriff’s Department requires identification to retrieve incident reports. However, the list of acceptable forms of identification did not include the Mexican Matrícula Consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS) (Consular Identification Card). At the March meeting, Jose Rodriguez, CEO of El Concilio, Yamilet Vallalodid Site Supervisor of El Concilio’s Modesto Office, Belinda Rolicheck, Executive Director of Haven Women’s Center, and Noe Páramo, Area Director of CRLA, stressed the need to include the MCAS to the list of acceptable identification.

Access to police reports is essential for victims when filing restraining orders and accessing  Stanislaus Family Justice Center services. Adding the MCAS as an acceptable identification broadens the scope of victims that can use these important services in their time of need. In particular, it addresses the needs of many victims of domestic violence and abuse in the Latino community with no other form of identification. In recognition of this need, Sheriff Christianson has ensured that the MCAS be added to the list.

“I am pleased that Sheriff Christianson has made this change. It shows sensitivity to victims of crime and encourages the Latino community to continue to trust and work with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department,” said Rodriguez.

To learn more about how you can contribute to this collaborative effort, please contact El Concilio-Council for the Spanish Speaking at (209) 644-2600.