Judge: Learn English or Go to Jail
A judge in Luzerne County, Pa., has ordered four robbery defendants to brush up on their English-speaking skills. If they don’t they’ll face more jail time.
Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. made learning English a part of his sentence earlier this week, a decision that has garnered national media attention.
The Times Leader reported on Wednesday that defendants—Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario and Rafael Guzman-Mateo—all needed translators when they pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit robbery.
Olszewski sentenced the four to two years in county prison, but had paroled three of the men because of time already served. In order to avoid serving more jail time, Olszewski ordered the men to learn to read and write the English language and earn GEDs. Also, they are to get full-time jobs within 30 days of release.
The men will have one year to accomplish the judge’s requirements and will be required to take an English test at that time. “If they don’t pass, they’re going in for the 24 [months],” Olszewski is quoted saying.
Lawyers for the men told the paper they are looking at the sentence to decide whether to appeal. But at least one of the defendants is pleased with the ruling.
“My client is happy,” says Ferris Webby, who represents Guzman-Mateo. “I think it’s going to help him. It’s going to help him succeed.”
Olszewski told the paper he expects to face criticism for the requirement, which dawned on him when, among other things, he realized one of the defendants only made it to the third grade and the others didn’t graduate from high school.
“Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?” the judge reportedly asked the men.
