|
Lee County
Phone: (239) 533-1580
Fax: (239) 485-1014
Charlotte County
Fax: (941) 637-2283
Collier County
Fax: (239) 774-9654
Forms
Links
|
COURT INTERPRETER SERVICES PROGRAM
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) recognizes the growing diversity of people who appear before and utilize the courts. Removing barriers to communication helps ensure that all persons receive fair and equal access to justice. The AOC provides interpreting services for individuals who have a limited ability to understand English, are deaf or hard of hearing, or are unable to speak.
The 20th Judicial Circuit employs full-time staff Court Interpreters as well as certified and qualified independent contract interpreters with services available in all court locations. "Language Line" services are also available when necessary. The need for interpreting services in criminal cases is first identified at First Appearance and flagged for future calendar proceedings.
A Court Interpreter's function is to facilitate, when judicially appointed, effective communication between the Court and non-English-speaking persons.
MISSION
The mission of Court Interpreter Services Program is to fulfill the mandate of Rule 2.560 of the Florida Rules of Court, which requires that the court appoint an interpreter for non-English-speaking persons whenever it is determined that a fundamental interest is at stake or is otherwise required by the Florida Evidence Code, and that no alternative to the appointment of an interpreter exists.
FAQ:
[Back to top]
HOW TO REQUEST A FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
Foreign language Court Interpreters are provided for litigants, witnesses, and other participants in felony, misdemeanor, delinquency, dependency, domestic violence injunction, child support (when initiated by the Department of Revenue), Baker Act, Marchman Act, and guardianship proceedings. Interpreter services are provided to individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in all court proceedings pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Foreign Language Interpreters are not provided for any civil proceedings. If you have a civil proceeding, you will be required to provide your own interpreter.
If you are indigent and cannot afford a foreign language interpreter, you may be entitled to one; requests are reviewed and determined on a case-by-case basis.
If you need a Court Interpreter for a hearing, you must contact the Court Interpreter Services Program department staff in advance and in writing of the hearing, Click Here for Court Interpreter Request Form. We require at least 24 hours advance notice for Spanish requests and at last 1 week advance notice for all other languages, including Sign Language. Notice of a possible trial in any language should be given, as soon as possible, for any language. Emergency requests may be made over the telephone by calling (239) 533-1580. Court Interpreter Services Program staff are responsible for scheduling interpreters requested for all in-court hearings. Notification of cancellation is required.
- If you are a criminal defendant, your attorney usually requests the interpreter for you.
- If you are involved in a juvenile case, the State Attorney's office usually requests the interpreter for the hearing(s).
- In domestic violence and criminal traffic cases, the request usually comes from the Clerk, but may be requested directly by a litigant.
- Court Interpreter Services Program staff cannot schedule an interpreter unless they receive a request.
[Back to top]
HOW TO REQUEST A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
Pursuant to F.S. 90.6063 and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sign Language Interpreters provide services for hearing impaired individuals.
If you need a sign language interpreter for a hearing, you must contact the Court Interpreter Services Program department staff in advance and in writing of the hearing, Click Here for Court Interpreter Request Form. Emergency requests may be made over the telephone by calling (239) 533-1580. Court Interpreter Services Program staff are responsible for scheduling interpreters requested for all in-court hearings. Notification of cancellation is required.
- If you are a criminal defendant, your attorney usually requests the interpreter for you.
- If you are involved in a juvenile case, the State Attorney's office usually requests the interpreter for the hearing(s).
- In domestic violence, civil, and traffic cases, the request usually comes from the Clerk, but may be requested directly by a litigant.
- Court Interpreter Services Program staff cannot schedule an interpreter unless we receive a request.
[Back to top]
WHAT DOES A COURT INTERPRETER DO?
A Court Interpreter is a trained, experienced, and impartial professional. They interpret everything that is said during court proceedings completely and accurately, making every effort to retain the register and tone of the utterance as well as the context.
For example, if a person says, in Spanish, "I want to speak to a lawyer," the interpreter will interpret exactly in English, "I want to speak to a lawyer." That is, the interpreter will interpret the statement exactly as it was said and will never say, "He says he wants to speak to a lawyer."
[Back to top]
WHOM DO THE COURT INTERPRETERS SERVE?
Court Interpreters provide services to the court and the members of the public who do not speak English nor speak English as a second language, including litigants, witnesses, parents or juveniles, and other parties who may appear before the court.
[Back to top]
ARE THE SERVICES OF THE INTERPRETER FREE?
Court Interpreter Services are provided to the Criminal Divisions in the Circuit, County, Juvenile, and Traffic Courts as well as Child Support Hearings and Mental Health Hearings.
[Back to top]
WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY LANGUAGES INTERPRETED IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURTS?
The majority of interpretations are made in Spanish and Haitian Creole, followed by some dialects of the Mayan languages such as K'iche' and Q'anjob'al.
[Back to top]
WILL A PERSON'S CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS OR HER LAWYER STILL BE CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes. Court Interpreters obey the Interpreter's Oath and the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities. Court Interpreters may not disclose information pertaining to the interpreted session nor its participants.
[Back to top]
WILL A COURT INTERPRETER COME TO A LAWYER'S OFFICE?
Court Interpreter Program Staff work in the courthouses exclusively. However, Independent Contract Court Interpreters may travel to the prisons for court-appointed attorneys and their clients.
[Back to top]
WILL THE COURT INTERPRETER EXPLAIN THE PROCEEDINGS?
No. Court Interpreters do not explain, paraphrase, or give legal advice. A Court Interpreter interprets what is said and does not add or omit anything.
[Back to top]
WHAT CERTIFICATION DOES FLORIDA REQUIRE FOR COURT INTERPRETERS?
To learn more about becoming a Certified Court Interpreter in the State of Florida please click here.
[Back to top]
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETER AND A BILINGUAL PERSON WHO INTERPRETS?
A professional Court Interpreter has specific training in consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation modes of interpretation in the legal field. Trained interpreters also have knowledge of the appropriate foreign language phonology, vocabulary, grammar, idiomatic expressions, etc. They are bound by the Interpreter's Oath and the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities. A bilingual person speaks two languages, but has not received training in vocabulary, protocol, and professional standards.
[Back to top]
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRANSLATOR AND AN INTERPRETER?
The words interpreter and translator might look alike at the outset but there is certainly a difference between the two. There is a difference in their concepts. One of the most important differences between an interpreter and a translator is that an interpreter translates spoken words whereas a translator translates written words.
[Back to top]
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "SIMULTANEOUS" AND "CONSECUTIVE" INTERPRETING?
Simultaneous interpreting is performed continuously (at the same time someone is speaking). Consecutive interpreting, which is necessary whenever testimony is given, is the translation of statements after someone has spoken (with pauses between completed statements).
[Back to top]
WHAT ARE "LANGUAGE LINE" SERVICES?
Language Line Services are over-the-phone interpretation services. The Court uses Language Line Services when the Court Interpreter cannot be present in the courtroom. Therefore, the interpretation is done over the phone.
[Back to top]
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN INTERPETING FOR THE COURTS OF THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT?
If you are a Certified Court Interpreter and are interested to work as an independent contractor please submit your resumé to: Rebeca Lade, Supervising Court Interpreter, phone: (239) 533-1580, fax: (239) 485-1014, Email: rlade@ca.cjis20.org Rebeca Lade
CONTACT INFORMATION:
LEE, HENDRY AND GLADES COUNTIES: Rebeca Lade
Supervising Court Interpreter
Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties
Phone: (239) 533-1580
Fax: (239) 485-1014
CHARLOTTE COUNTY: Marlene McDougall
Court Interpreter
Fax: (941) 637-2283
COLLIER COUNTY: Maria Blecha
Court Interpreter
Fax: (239) 774-9654
[Back to top]
Add
View