Start the bilingual judicial process right.

Interpreters and translators in law-enforcement settings:

Most often, police and other law enforcement tend to use "bilingual" officers to interpret during suspect interviews, and to translate documentation to be used by speakers of languages other than English, with whom officers enter into contact.

Working with an untrained or biased interpreter leads to errors and omissions, and evidence that gets thrown out.

Here are a few examples, taken from actual cases:

Example 1)

Suspect says during interview. "before I realized what was happening, [the victim] was dead." (potentially exculpatory)

Police officer acting as interpreter renders it as "so he stopped stabbing him once he saw he was dead." (implies premeditation and intention to kill)

Example 2)

This perfectly normal consent-form text,

"Regarding the following: the removal of any suspicious coverings or other components of the vehicle, or compartments made for the purpose of hiding contraband.

Color Year Make Body style License plate number"

when translated by a non-professional in to "Spanish," became the mind-bendingly nonsensical

"Respect to the following, the stirring any suspicious deck and other componentes of the vehcle in the smallest way and

manufactured comparment with the prpose of hiding contraband.

Color Anus Make Body style License plate number"

Example 3)

Interviewee (in Spanish): Can I call home so I can have my wife call my lawyer?

Officer acting as interpreter: He said he wants to call his wife.

Court interpreters are often willing to leave home urgently to interpret for law enforcement. We also go to jails, prisons, prosecutors' offices, police stations. In fact, about half of our interpreting is done in correctional or detention centers.

It benefits us all when local governments set aside funds to have the job done right the first time, so that no part of the judicial process, which begins with the arrest in a criminal case, needs to be repeated or cleaned up.

SPANISH COURT INTERPRETATION

and other languages by referral

seltinet@seltinet.com

Spanish interpreter · Spanish translator · Alabama Court Certified Interpreter · Español · Catalan · Legal · Conference Interpreter · Medical interpreter · Liason Interpreter · Bilingual mediator · Spanish transcript · Transcriber · Expert witness · Spanish court interpreter · Catalan interpreter · Catalan translator · Court interpreters · Hoover City · Tuscaloosa · Montgomery · Jeffesron Couty · Birmingham · Nashville · Tennessee · Huntsville · Anniston · Fort Payne · Gadsden · Northern District of Alabama · Southern District of Alabama

Southeastern Legal Translators &

Interpreters Network

LINKS:

National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators

Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators

Tennessee Association of Medical Interpreters and Translators

International Medical Interpreters Association

National Council on Interpreting in Health Care

www.uscourtinterpreter.com

Alabama Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

Download CJA21 form: voucher for expert witness or interpreter

ALABAMA TENNESSEE GEORGIA MISSISSIPPI ARKANSAS

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA KENTUCKY LOUISIANA

Birmingham - Huntsville Mobile - Montgomery Tuscaloosa - Decatur Cullman - Jacksonville, FL Memphis, TN - Charlotte, NC Nashville, TN - Knoxville TN Bristol, TN - Louisville, KY Atlanta, GA - Miami, FL Raleigh, NC - Tampa, FL

New Orleans, LA - Charleston, SC - Chattanooga, TN Asheville, NC - Raleigh, NC Savannah, GA

Certified Federal Court interpreters

State-certified court interpreters

Certified Medical Interpreters

Federal Grand Jury Clearance

Web View Mobile View

Logout Edit page