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Interpretation / Language Access

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Language Access

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires organizations receiving federal funds to ensure meaningful access to their programs and services for persons with limited English proficiency.
  • Court interpretation must be provided by professional, certified or qualified, culturally competent interpreters, preferably with training in domestic and sexual violence.
  • Bilingual speakers and advocates are not trained interpreters and cannot mitigate role confusion and/or conflicts of interest. They should not be asked to or relied upon to interpret.

    Technical Assistance and Training on: 

  • Federal and state laws and policies on language access in civil and criminal courts,
  • Meeting the needs of culturally diverse victims/survivors with limited English proficiency,
  • Improving language access policies and practices in organizations and systems,
  • Roles and responsibilities of systems personnel at various points of contact,
  • Model programs and practices for interpretation services,
  • Training and qualifying standards for court interpretation,
  • Advocates' roles,
  • Finding and working with interpreters,
  • Critical issues and challenges, and
  • Resource Center materials on: Demographic and Census Data, Glossaries, Guidelines and Standards for Court Interpretation, Manuals, Program Models, Policy Briefs, Research Reports, Resource Directories, Training Curricula, and Translated Materials.

resources

Resource Guide for Advocates & Attorneys on Interpretation Services for Domestic Violence Victims (Updated July 2010)

Advocating for Language Access in the Courts: An Introduction to Language Access and Interpretation (Presentation slides)

Language Access and Language Interpretation: Resources for Policy, Research, Services and  Advocacy (Annotated Bibliography by Author)

Language Access and Language Interpretation: Resources for Policy, Research, Services and  Advocacy (Annotated Bibliography by Subject)