Legal Interpretation Prevents Injustice:
Language barriers complicate matters, but when they are faced in legal situations it’s imperative interpretation services are provided in order to ensure everyone is on the same page. Not providing legal interpretation services can prevent justice from being served and can also put limited English proficient (LEP) individuals at risk of facing injustice. When communication is not sufficiently facilitated it leaves plenty of room for error, this can in turn cast negative effects on the LEP individual involved. Court interpreters are the link that bridge language gaps often faced in our court systems. They provide an invaluable service that allow people regardless of the language they speak to communicate effectively. Oscar Montenegro is a court interpreter who has been working with the 8th Judicial District for the past two years. Montenegro said, “I serve as a bridge between the law and a human being. The job carries a heavy responsibility. I connect the English world to a Spanish-speaker. I enjoy being that bridge, making connection to community need can help individually though the legal system.” He also stated, “Once we get a case, we have a brief with the lawyer and the client to get an understanding of the case, of what stage they’re at and what the process will be. Then we interpret every single word the judge says, the lawyer says, the district attorneys say. Obviously, if the client speaks, we interpret back to English for the entire court.” Montenegro said while the job is straight-forward, the work can get difficult. “It’s a very challenging job. The brain has to think seamlessly, automatically,” he said. “You have to be completely bilingual, really solid. You can’t be iffy on this.”
A Lack in Professional Legal Interpretation Services Can Result in Misunderstandings:
In Chesterfield, Virginia, Patricia Michelsen-King observed a court proceeding while she waited her turn to provide interpretation services for the next hearing. Suddenly a man shouted out loud from the back of the courtroom in Spanish, “I didn’t rape anybody!” Michelsen-King, who teaches Spanish interpretation at Virginia Commonwealth University, said, although the man in question was in court for running a red light, the interpreter told him he was accused of a “violación,” which means rape in Spanish. Michelsen-King said the interpreter should have used a better word choice such as, “infracción.” The man strongly contested to being accused of rape, however he admitted to the traffic violation. To emphasize on statements made by Montenegro, court interpreters truly have be qualified and need the experience to be able to properly bridge language gaps faced in a court of law. The smallest mistake can have a detrimental effects on the LEP individual.
Gain Access to Professional Legal Interpretation Services by Hiring a Language Service Provider:
Court interpreters remove an impediment so the judge, jury and participants can get their jobs done. Mitigating the hindrance caused by language barriers is the only way to ensure LEP individuals in this country are being treated fairly and all information is correctly understood by all parties involved. Eliminate dangerous hurtles caused by language barriers during legal proceedings by hiring a language service provider to gain access to professional and qualified court interpreters. Working with a trained and experienced court interpreter is the only way to prevent LEP individuals from getting “lost in translation” and potentially facing disastrous outcomes. Legal interpretation services aid in ensuring fairness and the basic right to voice your opinion, also promoting the integrity and accuracy of our judicial system. Working with professionals can ensure LEP individuals are provided with the help they need in order to communicate and understand in a court of law. Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a language service provider with over 20 years experience within the language service industry. Court interpreters provided by Niki’s Int’l Ltd. exercise wise ethical judgment, confidentiality, professional competence and they ensure accuracy within their work. It’s inevitable language barriers will continue to be faced regularly as our population continues to diversify. With this type of growth, accommodations need to be made to ensure people of all linguistic backgrounds are provided their constitutional rights and are able to understand information provided in legal settings. Allow Niki’s Int’l Ltd. to provide the solution that will eliminate uncertainty and establish complete understanding a court of law.
Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a WBENC-Certified Women Business Enterprise with 20 years of language service experience. A global network of highly skilled interpreters and translators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for on-site, telephonic and video remote interpretation services. Our linguists are available in over 350 languages and dialects, and our network includes certified interpreters and translators. Our work is guaranteed with a $1 Million Errors & Omissions policy, so that you can be confident that your project will be completed with the highest level of quality and professionalism within the field. For more information contact us at 1-877-567-8449 or visit our website at www.nilservices.com.