Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AGENDA
Pre-Conference Activities
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Sound Off Session: Share Your Thoughts About -
• Scheduling
• Qualifying Non-Certified Interpreters
• Languages Other than Spanish
• Performance Evaluation
• Other Issues
Pam Sánchez, Statewide Program Manager, Court Interpreter & Jury
Services
AGENDA
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. PLENARY SESSION: Sound Files: How To Deal With Sound Files, How
To Create Realistic Expectations among the Judiciary
AGENDA
1:45 p.m. – 3: 00 p.m. PLENARY SESSION: Working with the NES Juror – Considerations and
Best Practices Panel
Moderator, Lin Marksbury, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf
Panel Members:
Rosa Lopez-Gaston, Staff Interpreter and Supervisor of Interpreter
Services, 2nd District Court Albuquerque
Jamie Boling, Jury Manager, 1st District Court,Santa Fe
Robert Felton, Certified Interpreter, Doňa Ana Magistrate Court, Las
Cruces
Shoshanah Epstein, federally certified ASL court interpreter holding a
Legal Specialist Certificate from the Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. PLENARY SESSION: Closing Remarks – What’s Next?
Pam Sánchez, Statewide Program Manager, Court Interpreter & Jury
Services
Pam Sánchez
Pam began work with AOC as Statewide Program Manager for Court Interpreter and Jury
Services in May 2008. She worked previously as senior planner and staff manager with
the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative. She holds a Masters in Social Work
from the University of Washington and has over 25 years in non-profit and government
leadership, including management roles with County, State and Tribal Governments. As
Director of Volunteer and Community Resources with the American Red Cross in Seattle
she oversaw the agency’s International Services Program, including the Language Bank
with over 200 volunteer interpreters representing over 80 languages. Ms. Sánchez has
provided staff support to the Conference Planning Committee.
Ethics:
Team Interpreting
Scenarios
Scenario on Team Interpreting:
Requesting a Team
You, as the interpreter, inform the court that a team is needed. Your request
is denied, and the judge orders you to perform the interpreting.
If you refuse, the judge will hold you in contempt and has stated that they
will use a family member to interpret for all parties.
n Preamble
M
any persons who come before the courts are non- appearance of impartiality and neutrality, avoiding unnecessary
or limited-English speakers. The function of court contact with the parties. Court interpreters and translators shall
interpreters and translators is to remove the language abstain from comment on matters in which they serve. Any real
barrier to the extent possible, so that such persons’ access to or potential conflict of interest shall be immediately disclosed to
justice is the same as that of similarly-situated English speakers the Court and all parties as soon as the interpreter or translator
for whom no such barrier exists. The degree of trust that is placed becomes aware of such conflict of interest.
in court interpreters and the magnitude of their responsibility
necessitate high, uniform ethical standards that will both guide Canon 3. Confidentiality
and protect court interpreters in the course of their duties as well Privileged or confidential information acquired in the course of
as uphold the standards of the profession as a whole. interpreting or preparing a translation shall not be disclosed by
the interpreter without authorization.
While many ethical decisions are straightforward, no code
of ethics can foresee every conceivable scenario; court inter Canon 4. Limitations of Practice
preters cannot mechanically apply abstract ethical principles to Court interpreters and translators shall limit their partici
every situation that may arise. This Code is therefore intended pation in those matters in which they serve to interpreting and
not only to set forth fundamental ethical precepts for court translating, and shall not give advice to the parties or otherwise
interpreters to follow, but also to encourage them to develop engage in activities that can be construed as the practice of law.
their own, well-informed ethical judgment.
Canon 5. Protocol and Demeanor
nApplicability Court interpreters shall conduct themselves in a manner
All NAJIT members are bound to comply with this Code. consistent with the standards and protocol of the court, and
shall perform their duties as unobtrusively as possible. Court
Canon 1. Accuracy interpreters are to use the same grammatical person as the
Source-language speech should be faithfully rendered into the speaker. When it becomes necessary to assume a primary role
target language by conserving all the elements of the original in the communication, they must make it clear that they are
message while accommodating the syntactic and semantic speaking for themselves.
patterns of the target language. The rendition should sound
natural in the target language, and there should be no distortion Canon 6. Maintenance and Improvement of Skills and Knowledge
of the original message through addition or omission, explanation Court interpreters and translators shall strive to maintain and
or paraphrasing. All hedges, false starts and repetitions should improve their interpreting and translation skills and knowledge.
be conveyed; also, English words mixed into the other language
should be retained, as should culturally-bound terms which have Canon 7. Accurate Representation of Credentials
no direct equivalent in English, or which may have more than Court interpreters and translators shall accurately represent
one meaning. The register, style and tone of the source language their certifications, accreditations, training and pertinent
should be conserved. experience.
Guessing should be avoided. Court interpreters who do not hear Canon 8. Impediments to Compliance
or understand what a speaker has said should seek clarification. Court interpreters and translators shall bring to the Court’s
Interpreter errors should be corrected for the record as soon as attention any circumstance or condition that impedes full
possible. compliance with any Canon of this Code, including interpreter
fatigue, in ability to hear, or inadequate knowledge of
Canon 2. Impartiality and Conflicts of Interest specialized terminology, and must decline assignments under
Court interpreters and translators are to remain impartial and conditions that make such compliance patently impossible.
neutral in proceedings where they serve, and must maintain the
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators • 603 Stewart St., Suite 610 • Seattle, WA 98101
Tel: 206-267-2300 • Fax: 206-626-03928 • Email: headquarters@najit.org
Code of Professional Responsibility
New Mexico Court Interpreters
Certified court interpreters are highly skilled professionals who fulfill an essential role in the
administration of justice and in the protection of the 4th and 6th Amendment rights for non-
English speaking persons. In their capacity as officers of the court, court interpreters are bound
to a professional code of ethics to ensure due process of law.
Canon 1 Official court interpreters act strictly in the interests of the court they serve.
Canon 2 Official court interpreters reflect proper court decorum and act with dignity and
respect to the officials and staff of the court.
Canon 3 Official court interpreters avoid professional or personal conduct which would
discredit the court.
Canon 4 Official court interpreters, except upon court order, shall not disclose any
information of a confidential nature about court cases obtained while performing
interpreting duties.
Canon 5 Official court interpreters respect the restraints imposed by the need for
confidentiality and secrecy as protected under applicable federal and state law.
Interpreters shall disclose to the court, and to the parties in a case, any prior
involvement with that case, or private involvement with the parties or others
significantly involved in the case.
Canon 6 Official court interpreters undertake to inform the court of any impediment in the
observance of this Code or of any effort by another to cause the Code to be
violated.
Canon 7 Official court interpreters work unobtrusively with full awareness of the nature of
the proceedings.
Canon 8 Official court interpreters fulfill a special duty to interpret accurately and
faithfully without indicating any personal bias, avoiding even the appearance of
partiality.
Canon 9 Official court interpreters maintain impartiality by avoiding undue contact with
witnesses, attorneys, litigants and their families, and any unauthorized contact
with jurors. This should not limit, however, those appropriate contacts necessary
to prepare adequately for their assignment.
Canon 10 Official court interpreters refrain from giving advice of any kind to any party or
individual and from expressing personal opinion in a matter before the court.
Canon 11 Official court interpreters perform to the best of their ability to assure due process
for the parties, accurately state their professional qualifications, and refuse any
assignment for which they are not qualified or under conditions which
substantially impair their effectiveness.
They preserve the level of language used, and the ambiguities and nuances of the
speaker, without any editing. Implicit in the knowledge of their limitations is the
duty to correct any error of interpretation, and demonstrate their professionalism
by requesting clarification of ambiguous statements or unfamiliar vocabulary and
to analyze objectively any challenge to their performance. Interpreters have the
duty to call to the attention of the court any factors or conditions which adversely
affect their ability to perform adequately.
Canon 13 Official court interpreters support other official interpreters by sharing knowledge
and expertise with them to the extent practicable in the interests of the court, and
by never taking advantage of knowledge obtained in the performance of official
duties, or by their access to court records, facilities, or privileges, for their own or
another’s personal gain.
Canon 14 Official court interpreters of the New Mexico state courts willingly accept and
agree to this code, and understand that appropriate sanctions may be imposed by
the court for willful violations.
(Reference: NMSA 23-111 paragraph C., pursuant to a court order dated 12/12/03,
this rule was effective 2/16/04.)
NAD-RID CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Scope
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID)
uphold high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct for interpreters. Embodied in this Code
of Professional Conduct (formerly known as the Code of Ethics) are seven tenets setting forth guid-
ing principles, followed by illustrative behaviors.
The tenets of this Code of Professional Conduct are to be viewed holistically and as a guide to pro-
fessional behavior. This document provides assistance in complying with the code. The guiding prin-
ciples offer the basis upon which the tenets are articulated. The illustrative behaviors are not exhaus-
tive, but are indicative of the conduct that may either conform to or violate a specific tenet or the
code as a whole.
When in doubt, the reader should refer to the explicit language of the tenet. If further clarification is
needed, questions may be directed to the national office of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
This Code of Professional Conduct is sufficient to encompass interpreter roles and responsibilities in
every type of situation (e.g., educational, legal, medical). A separate code for each area of interpret-
ing is neither necessary nor advisable.
Philosophy
The American Deaf community represents a cultural and linguistic group having the inalienable right
CODE OF to full and equal communication and to participation in all aspects of society. Members of the
PROFESSIONAL American Deaf community have the right to informed choice and the highest quality interpreting serv-
ices. Recognition of the communication rights of America’s women, men, and children who are deaf is
CONDUCT the foundation of the tenets, principles, and behaviors set forth in this Code of Professional Conduct.
Voting Protocol
This Code of Professional Conduct was presented through mail referendum to certified interpreters
who are members in good standing with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. and the
National Association of the Deaf. The vote was to adopt or to reject.
The guiding principles and the illustrative behaviors may change periodically to meet the needs and
requirements of the RID Ethical Practices System. These sections of the Code of Professional
Conduct will not require a vote of the members. However, members are encouraged to recommend
changes for future updates.
Applicability
A. This Code of Professional Conduct applies to certified and associate members of the Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., Certified members of the National Association of the Deaf, interns,
and students of the profession.
B. Federal, state or other statutes or regulations may supersede this Code of Professional Conduct.
CODE OF When there is a conflict between this code and local, state, or federal laws and regulations, the
interpreter obeys the rule of law.
PROFESSIONAL
C. This Code of Professional Conduct applies to interpreted situations that are performed either face-
CONDUCT to-face or remotely.
Definitions
For the purpose of this document, the following terms are used:
Conflict of Interest: A conflict between the private interests (personal, financial, or professional)
and the official or professional responsibilities of an interpreter in a position of trust, whether actual
or perceived, deriving from a specific interpreting situation.
Consumers: Individuals and entities who are part of the interpreted situation. This includes individu-
als who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, and hearing.
1.0 CONFIDENTIALITY
Tenet: Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication.
Guiding Principle: Interpreters hold a position of trust in their role as linguistic and cultural facili-
tators of communication. Confidentiality is highly valued by consumers and is essential to protecting
all involved.
Each interpreting situation (e.g., elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education, legal, medical,
mental health) has a standard of confidentiality. Under the reasonable interpreter standard, profes-
sional interpreters are expected to know the general requirements and applicability of various levels
Registry of Interpreters of confidentiality. Exceptions to confidentiality include, for example, federal and state laws requiring
for the Deaf mandatory reporting of abuse or threats of suicide, or responding to subpoenas.
333 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 Illustrative Behavior - Interpreters:
703/838-0030 (V) 1.1 Share assignment-related information only on a confidential and “as-needed” basis (e.g.,
703/838-0459 (TTY) supervisors, interpreter team members, members of the educational team, hiring entities).
703/838-0454 (Fax)
www.rid.org
2.0 PROFESSIONALISM
Tenet: Interpreters possess the professional skills and knowledge required for the specific interpret-
ing situation.
Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to stay abreast of evolving language use and trends in
the profession of interpreting as well as in the American Deaf community.
Interpreters accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, communication mode, setting, and
consumer needs. Interpreters possess knowledge of American Deaf culture and deafness-related resources.
3.0 CONDUCT
Tenet: Interpreters conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the specific interpreting situation.
Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to present themselves appropriately in demeanor and
appearance. They avoid situations that result in conflicting roles or perceived or actual conflicts of
interest.
Registry of Interpreters 3.3 Avoid performing dual or conflicting roles in interdisciplinary (e.g. educational or mental
for the Deaf health teams) or other settings.
333 Commerce Street
3.4 Comply with established workplace codes of conduct, notify appropriate personnel if there is a
Alexandria, VA 22314
conflict with this Code of Professional Conduct, and actively seek resolution where warranted.
703/838-0030 (V)
703/838-0459 (TTY) 3.5 Conduct and present themselves in an unobtrusive manner and exercise care in choice of attire.
703/838-0454 (Fax)
www.rid.org
Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to honor consumer preferences in selection of inter-
preters and interpreting dynamics, while recognizing the realities of qualifications, availability, and
situation.
Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to collaborate with colleagues to foster the delivery of
effective interpreting services. They also understand that the manner in which they relate to col-
leagues reflects upon the profession in general.
Registry of Interpreters
5.5 Obtain the consent of colleagues before bringing an intern to an assignment.
for the Deaf
333 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703/838-0030 (V)
703/838-0459 (TTY)
703/838-0454 (Fax)
www.rid.org
Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to conduct their business in a professional manner
whether in private practice or in the employ of an agency or other entity. Professional interpreters are
entitled to a living wage based on their qualifications and expertise. Interpreters are also entitled to
working conditions conducive to effective service delivery.
Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to foster and maintain interpreting competence and the
stature of the profession through ongoing development of knowledge and skills.
Registry of Interpreters
for the Deaf
333 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703/838-0030 (V)
703/838-0459 (TTY)
703/838-0454 (Fax)
www.rid.org
Ethics
A Murderer’s Psychological Profile
The Sex Offender Mentality
Signed and Spoken Interpreters Working Together (Ms. Meryl
C.S./ Language Access and Deaf Services Coordinator in the
Maine Office of Multicultural Affairs within the Department of
Health and Human Services) Najit Guest Speaker.
Court Security and the Court Interpreter
-
-
-
-
Interpretation and Translation:
Firearms and Weapons
Legal Terminology
Medical Terminology
-
-
-
-
-
NEW MEXICO’S FIRST CERTIFIED COURT INTERPRETERS’
CONFERENCE
“LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER”
Closing Remarks
What’s New?
&
What’s Next?
THANK YOU!
Conference Planning Committee
Magdalena Giron Lin Marksbury
Koko Chino Leticia Medina
Robert Felton Marcia Rabinovich
Michael Kagan Carolina Duran
Staff Support: Renee Lovato, AOC
Court Interpreter Advisory Committee
Sandra Caldwell, Chair
New Mexico Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Amanda Retsek, Chair
What’s New?
State Justice Institute Grant Award:
New Mexico Justice System Interpreter Resource
Partnership
Goal: Access to culturally and linguistically appropriate
services across the justice system
How:
Targeted recruitment, geographically and by language
Work with universities & colleges
Training for personnel throughout the justice system
NM Justice System Interpreters
Resource Partnership
Children, Youth & Families Department
Judicial Education Center
New Mexico Sheriffs Association
New Mexico Commission for the Deaf & Hard of
Hearing Persons
Community Outreach Program for the Deaf
NM Justice System Interpreters
Resource Partnership
Administrative Office of the District Attorney
UNM- Los Alamos
New Mexico Corrections Department
NM Police Chiefs Association and State Police
Doña Ana Community College
Central NM Community College
NM Public Defenders
What’s Next?
Certification Process
Work Groups
Language-Neutral Orientations
Spoken Languages Other than Spanish
Signed Languages
Partners’ Forum
Propose a topic for discussion in the newsletter or
online
Sound Off
Sharesuccesses, raise issues, tell everyone what’s
working and what’s not
Just Ask
A question and answer feature in Partners
For More Information
Contact
Pam Sánchez
aocpjs@nmcourts.gov
New Mexico’s Certified
Court Interpreters’ Conference
October 11, 2008
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sound Files:
Forensic Transcription
Translation and Testimony
Rafael Carrillo
Sources
• Federal government
• Private sector
Federal Government
• Phone conversations
• Body wires
• Surveillance/sting videotapes
• Jail recordings
• Conference material
State and Local Government
• Phone conversations
• Body wires
• Surveillance/sting videotapes
• Interviews
• Jail recordings
• Traffic stops
• 911 recordings
Private Sector
• Transcription software
http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/index.html
• Voice recognition software
• Comfort
• Good lighting
• Availability of research resources
• Security
Reception of Work Material
• Cost estimate
• Set deadlines
• Establish rates
• Written agreement or contract
• Issue receipts for materials
• Use the magic formula
1 hour of work for every minute of audio
C.T.S.
10328 Garwood Court
El Paso, TX 79925-7305
Tel (915) 494-1249
Fax (915) 593-5485
carrillotranslations@msn.com
I, Rafael Carrillo received from Agent 007 the following materials for case number ABC-123:
I understand that this material shall be returned with the final product and all work copies prepared.
____________________ __________________
RECEIVED DATE
TT Process
• Work logs
• Listen to audio
• Perform research
• Prepare transcript
• Prepare translation
• Review
• Q.C.
• Print
• Cold read
• Certify
Transcript format
final houston\Word Perfect documents\HITA
TRANSCRIPT.wpd
VOICE
IDENTIFICATION???
• Prepare receipt
I, Agent 007 received from Rafael Carrillo the following materials for case number ABC-
123:
1.- One CD labeled A-1 Final Certified Transcripts R.C, containing 4 protected PDF files.
______________________ __________________
RECEIVED DATE
General recommendations
• Get familiar with the local slang in both languages
• Compile glossaries
• Read the local newspapers and listen to local news and radio shows
• Do your homework, many time you will run into cases that involve
horses, cigarettes, medical terms, or a specific industry. Make sure
you understand where the events are taking place so that you are
familiar with names of places if they come up
• Take care of yourself. It is very easy to end up old, fat, deaf, blind
and losing you hair very quickly
• Keep in touch with your client so that you know trial
dates and avoid conflicts of interest.