Language Access at Crime Scenes: Improve Successful Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions July 30, 2015 Workshop IV, Session A New Orleans, LA National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project, American University Washington College of Law 1
LanguageAccessatCrimeScenes:ImproveSuccessfulCriminal
InvestigationsandProsecutions
July30,2015WorkshopIV,SessionA
NewOrleans,LA
NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 1
Introductions
OfficerMichaelLaRiviere• Officer,PatrolDivision,SalemPoliceDepartment
DetectiveShelliSonnenberg• Detective,FinancialCrimesUnit,BoisePolice
DepartmentWendyLau
• ProjectCoordinator,AsianPacificInstituteonGender‐BasedViolence
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LearningObjectivesBytheendofthisworkshop,youwillbebetterableto:• Understandhowtoimproveinvestigationsbyusinglanguageaccesstools
• Enhancevictimsafetyandparticipationinthecriminaljusticesystem
• Uselanguageaccessandcertificationprogramstoenhanceofficer/victim/communitysafety
• Improvecommunitypolicinginimmigrantcommunities
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ParticipantIntroductions,Goals,andExpectations
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MajorChallengesWorkingwithImmigrantVictimsofCrime
• Language,LimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)
• Fearofdeportation• Lackofknowledgeoflegalrights• Donottrustthatpolice/prosecutorswill
helpthem• Lackofreportingand/orcooperationas
thecasemovesforward
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FirstResponders–Whatdoyoudowhenyouarriveatacrimescene?
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FirstResponse• Locateandsecurethescene• Arethereanyweapons?• Isanyoneinjured?• Identifythepeopleinvolved:
– Victim– Offender– Witnesses
• Ifoffenderisnotonthescene:– Whereisthesuspect?– Aretheyacontinuingdanger?– Issuspectinpossessionofweapon?
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WhatdoyoudowhentheindividualsatthesceneareLEP?
Howcanyougettheinformationyouneedtosecurethescene?
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TitleVI‐ CivilRightsActof1964• AnyrecipientofFederalfinancialassistancehasaresponsibilitytoensureaccess/understandingtoLEPpersons
• DepartmentofJustice(DOJ)stronglysuggests,butdoesnotrequireawrittenlanguageassistanceplanbeputinplace– Thisdoesnotprecludetheobligationoftherecipient
• DOJdiscouragesuseofinformalinterpreters(familymembers,guardians,caretakers,friends)exceptinlimitedoremergencysituations
• DOJleavesthedeterminationofwhatdocumentsneedtobetranslatedforthebenefitoftheLEPpersonsuptotherecipient
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DOJModelGuidance• Policeprovidefreelanguageaccessto:
– LEPpersonswhorequestit– Whenanofficerdecidesitishelpfultothecriminalinvestigationorprosecution
• Policewillinformmembersofthepublicthatlanguageassistanceisavailablefreeofcharge
• Languageaccessisprovidedinpersonsprimarylanguage
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DOJandExigentCircumstances
• Usethemostreliabletemporaryinterpreteravailabletoaddressexigentcircumstances:
– Fleeingsuspect
–Weapons
– Threatoflifetoanofficer,victim,orthepublic
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ExigentCircumstances:WhatYouDoNowMattersLater
PROS• Safety• IDoffender• Locateweapons• Admissiblestatements(ExcitedUtterances)
CONS• MistakenIDofoffender• Arrestofvictim• Misinterpretationresultsininaccuratestatements
• Traumatochildren
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Nowthattheemergencyisover,howdoyouworkwithvictims,witnesses,andoffenderswhodonotspeakEnglish?
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TheInvestigationBegins• CallDetective• CallFire/Rescue• Takeinitialstatements• Callcrimescene• Photograph• Formalinterviewsatthestation• Developprobablecause• Preparecaseforprosecution
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LanguageResources• LanguageLine• Departmentinterpreterslinedevelopedinresponsetolargelocalrefugeepopulation
• Immigrantcommunitybasedorganizationpartners
• Healthcareproviders• Schoolsystems
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BilingualOfficerv.Interpreter
• Bilingualofficers– Whentheyareinterpreting,theyarenotinvestigating
• Biculturalismv.bilingualism– Differentwordshavedifferentmeanings:
• e.g.,Variationsontheword“highway”dependingonwhatstateyou’refrom
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TipsforWorkingwithInterpreters
• Controltheinterview• Pre‐sessionwiththeinterpreter
– Wherearetheylocated?– Establishwhatyourrulesare
• Howdoyouwanttheinterpretertointerpret?
• Interpreterhastointerpreteverythingthatyousay– Example:whenyouareexplainingconfidentiality
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DOJRequirementsforInvestigations&Interrogations
• “Aqualifiedinterpretershallbeusedforanyinterrogationortakingofaformalstatementwherethesuspectorwitness’legalrightscouldbeadverselyimpacted”– Criminalinterrogations– Crimewitnessinterviews
• Vitalwrittenmaterialstranslatedintoprimarylanguage– Mirandawarnings
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WhoareIndividualswithLimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)?
• IndividualswithLEPdonotspeakEnglishastheirprimarylanguageandhavealimitedabilitytoread,write,speak,orunderstandEnglish.
• Deaf(uppercase‘D’)referstoanidentitywithitsownculture,language,anddiversecommunities– ‘Deaf’referstoaphysicalcondition/impairment– Deafandhardofhearingoftenunderstoodasadisabilityissue,butisalsoalanguageissue
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Meaning……
• Government&governmentfundedprogramsmustprovidemeaningfulaccesstoprograms&benefitstopersonswithlimitedEnglishproficiency
• Becauseapolicedepartmentreceivesfederalfunds,thenallyourprograms,activities,andbenefitsmustbelanguageaccessible
• Havinganincompetentlanguageserviceistantamounttohavingnoserviceatall*
*SummitLorainProjectcitingHandbookfortheLegalProfession,NationalAssociationofJudiciaryInterpreterandTranslators
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PointsofIdentification
• Dispatch• Walk‐in• Onthescene• Accompanyingserviceagency(e.g.,ChildProtectiveServices)
• Callintostation• Others?
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IdentifyingLEP• Useopen‐endedquestionsandclarifyingquestions
– Avoidaskingquestionsthatonlyrequireaonewordanswer
• ConsiderwhethertheindividualmixesEnglishandanotherlanguage
• Listentowhethertheindividualusesincompletesentencestoexplainthesituation
• Countryoforigin– startingpoint,butmaynotbetheprimarylanguageoftheLEPindividual
• Whatiftheindividualdoesnotwanttogetaninterpreter?– Stigma– Fearofcausinginconvenience “IwillberequestinganinterpreterbecauseIneedonetodomyjob…”
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Definitions• Interpretation ‐ Processoforallyrenderingcommunicationfromonelanguagetoanotherlanguage(interpreter)
• Translation – preparationofawrittentextfromonelanguageintoanequivalentforminanotherlanguage(translator)
• QualifiedBilingualMember‐ Departmentmemberswhoidentifythemselvesas“bilingual”mustdemonstrate,throughaformalprocedure,whichhasbeenestablishedbytheCityorDepartment,competencytocommunicateinthesourcelanguagebydemonstratingtheabilitytolistentoacommunicationinonelanguage(sourcelanguage)andorallyconvertittoanotherlanguage(targetlanguage)whileretainingthesamemeaning
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ModesofInterpretation• Simultaneous – Theprocessoforallyrenderingonelanguageintoanotherlanguagevirtuallyatthesametimethatthespeakerisspeaking
• Consecutive – Theprocessoforallyrenderingonelanguageintoanotherlanguageafterthespeakerhascompletedastatementorquestion
• SightTranslation– Therenderingofmaterialwritteninonelanguageintospokenspeechinanotherlanguage
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InterpretationExercise1. PersonAwillreadtheparagraphoutloudandPersonBwill
attempttoreiterate/interprettheentireparagraphconsecutively,ineitherEnglishorthetargetlanguage
2. PersonBshouldnotlookatthematerialbeingreadbyPersonA3. PersonAshouldreadtheparagraphwithoutpausingand
PersonBwillnotbeabletoaskPersonAtorepeatthesentencesorutterances1. PersonB,however,cantakenotesasPersonAisreading
4. WhenPersonBhasfinished,PersonAwillthenbetheinterpreterandPersonBwillreadadifferentparagraphorexercisewiththesamerulesas#2
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Summary≠ Interpretation• Summarizationis
– Notallowedinlegalandmedicalsettingsduetoprofessionalstandards
– Canleadtotheexclusionofcrucialinformationininterviewsorinterrogations
• Untrainedinterpretersresorttothismodebecausetheylacktheskillsforsimultaneousorconsecutiveinterpretation
• Cannotuseanuntrainedbilingualindividual,whomightusetheirdiscretiontosaywhattheyviewisimportantorsummarize,therebynotaccuratelyandcompletelyinterpreting
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BilingualStaffversusInterpreter
BilingualStaff• FluentinEnglishandnativelanguage
• Notaconduitorneutralparty
• Nogovernmentstandard,butrecommendsassessment
• Qualified
Interpreter• Spokenlanguagefromonelanguagetoanother
• Training• Neutralparty• FluencyinEnglishandnativelanguage
• Conduittocommunicate• In‐person• Telephonic
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BilingualStaffasInterpreterConsiderations
1.AreyoufluentinEnglishandtheforeignlanguage?2.Areyouabletointerpretintheconsecutiveorsimultaneousmodeaccurately?3.Areyoufamiliarwithspecializedterminologyofdomesticviolence&sexualassaultinthesourcelanguage?4.Canyouavoidaconflictofinterest?5.Canyoustayintheinterpreter’sroleandavoidfunctioninginthepolicerole?6.Willtherebeconfusionbyyourchangeofroles?7.Couldyoubeapotentialwitnessinthecase?8.Willyoubeinterpretingforthevictimandnotthebatterer?9.Willwaitingforaqualifiedinterpreternegativelyaffectavictim’simmediatesafety?
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Meza Case‐ 2008• ChargedwithFirstdegreeMurder– Chargewasdroppedtomanslaughter– BabydiedafterMezashookhissonsoviolentlythechild’sbrainbegantoswell,ultimatelykillinghim
– DetectivesusedaSpanishspeakingofficertoassistwiththeinterview
– Reviewofthetapesrevealedthattheofficerinterpretingleftoutsomeoftheinformation,misinterpretedseveralstatementsmadebythesuspectandthedetective
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AssessingInterpretationAbility• Certified:Passedlanguagetestingspecializinginlegalor
medicalsettings;shouldprovidecertificationnumberandstate;nativeornearnativefluency
• Registered:completedanEnglishfluencytest;shouldprovideregistrationnumberandstateregistered
• Qualified:Maynotbecertifiedorregistered,buthascompletedinterpretertrainings,fluentinbothlanguages,andunderstandsinterpreterethicsandcanons
• Assessingtheinterpretationskillwithoutcertification‐ Identifytheskilllevelneeded‐ Havingbilingualstaffassess‐ Usingarticlesandtextsinthetargetlanguage
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QualifiedInterpreter• ProficiencyinEnglishandinterpretedlanguage• Caninterpretusingeithertheconsecutiveorsimultaneousmodesofinterpretation
• Knowledgeanduseofabroadrangeofvocabulary,subject‐specificterminology,andslang
• Knowledgeanduseofculturalnuances,regionalvariations,idiomaticexpressions,andcolloquialismsinallworkinglanguages
• Speakwithproperpronunciation,diction,andintonationinallworkinglanguages
• Abilitytolistentoandcomprehendvariousregionalaccentsand/ordialecticaldifferencesinallworkinglanguages
• Followinginterpreterethicalstandards
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CodeofEthicsandProfessionalConduct• Accuracyandcompleteness
• Representationofqualifications
• Impartialityandavoidanceofconflictofinterest
• Professionaldemeanor• Confidentiality• Restrictionofpubliccomment
• Scopeofpractice• Assessingandreporting• Impedimentstocompliance
• Dutytoreportethicalviolations
• Professionaldevelopment
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WorkingEffectivelywithanInterpreter• Explaintotheinterpreterthecircumstances• EverythingsaidbyyouandtheLEPindividualis
interpreted(includingfalsestarts,mumbling,cursing,thinkingoutloud,etc.)
• Maintainpauses/handsignalstoregulatethespeaker• Beattentivetoextraneousnoise• Useateamofinterpretersforeventslastingmorethan
twohours• BeawareoftheLEPindividual’seducationlevel• Explainand“breakdown”thelegalsystemandlegal
concepts• Donotgivetheinterpreteranyexplanatory
responsibilities
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WorkingEffectivelywithanInterpreterbyPhone• Usestraight,simple,directlanguage,shortphrases,andfirstand
secondperson• Speakslower,notlouder• Gosentencebysentenceandpause• Talkthrough,notto,theinterpreter;continuetospeaktothe
CLIENTandmaintaineyecontactasiftheinterpreterisnotpresent• Don’taskinterpreterforhis/heropinionabouttheLEPindividual• Havepatiencesinceinterpretedinterviewswilltakelonger• Beawareofinterpreterfatigue• Checkandrechecktobesuretheclientunderstandsusingopen‐
endedquestions• Don’tbeafraidtostepinifyouseesomethingamiss• Thanktheinterpreter
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TelephonicInterpreter– LanguageAccessPlanProtocol
• Ensurethatpatrolcanaccessthetelephonicinterpretationservice– Smartphone– Needtoradiotohavephonebroughttothem– Personalcellphone
• Trainofficerstorecognizebadinterpretationandaskforanewinterpreterwhenneeded– Factorincircumstancessuchastime,emergency,andnecessity– Informtheinterpreterthatyouwillberequestinganotherinterpreter;then,telltheclientviainterpreter“Iwillberequestinganewinterpreter,pleasewaitasIcallinagainforanewinterpreter”
– Bestpracticeistorecordthebadinterpreter’sIDnumber
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VettingandPreparingtheThirdParty• Qualifyingquestions
– Askaboutexperienceorcredentials– Isthepersoneducatedinbothlanguages?Havetheyworkedinbothlanguages?
– Howdidtheylearnthelanguage?– Relationshiptotheparty?
• Reviewinterpreterrole– Complete– Accurate– Neutral
• Recordtheuseofathirdpartybilingualspeaker
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QualifyinganInterpreter:SpottingaBadInterpreter
• Canyouunderstandtheinterpreter?• DoestheLEPindividuallookconfused?• Doestheinterpreterappearconfused?• Istheinterpreterengaginginsideconversations?• Istheinterpreterengaginginconversationswiththeindividualbefore/aftertheinterpretationmeeting?
• Istheinterpretersummarizing?• Iseverythingbeinginterpreted?• Isthereachangeintheindividual’sdemeanor?
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RelayInterpreting
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Examples
• ExcerptfromSanFranciscoPoliceTrainingVideohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8qY1zi0tzc&feature=youtu.be
• CommunicatingwithLEPvideo
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Preferences• Differentineverysituation
– Homicide– Time‐criticalscenarios– Hostage– Suicides– Domesticviolence– Booking– TrafficStop– Interrogation– Trial
• Dependsonresources,language,timeshift
• Considerscenariosapplicableforyourprecinct/district/department
• Ifunspecified,rememberprecinct’s/district’s/department’sgeneralpreferences
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CaseScenario#1:
Arrivingatacrimescene,youfindthattherehasbeenarobberyandanassault.ThevictimisLEPwithbloodonherhead,screaming,andpointinginonedirection.AnEnglish‐speakingbystanderstatesthathesawamanrundownthealleyrightbeforeyouarrived.
1. What’sthebestchoicetocommunicatewiththeLEP?2. SecondBest?3. OKandLastResort?4. Unacceptable?
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Considerations
• Useofchildren?Familyofvictimorbystander?• Isthereaninjury,imminentharmor,forimmediateinformationgathering,aneedtopursueasuspectwhilewaitingforaninterpreter?
• Willtherebeaconflictofinterest?• Seriousnessandinjury?
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ExigentCircumstances
PROHIBITED,EXCEPTwherethereisimmediatedangerofseriousphysicalharm,orlifethreateningsituationtoanyperson:1. Usingchildrentointerpret2. Familymemberstointerpret3. Abilingualofficeroremployeeregardlessoflevelofbilingualcompetencyforpoliceinterrogations
4. Bilingualinmatestointerpret
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CaseScenario#2Therehasbeenacaraccident.OneofthedriversisintoxicatedandisLEP.TheotherdriverbeginstomixSpanishandEnglishtogether.• Howwouldyougoaboutidentifyingthelanguageneededtoquestiontheintoxicateddriver?
• Howwouldyourequestlanguageassistancefortheotherdriver?
• ForBothdriversidentify:‐ Bestchoicetocommunicate?‐ Secondbest?‐ OKandLastresort?‐ Unacceptable?‐ Reasoning?
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LargeGroupDiscussion
Basedonthetrainingtoday,whatwillyoutakebackwhenyoureturn
toyouragency?
• Whatmightyouwanttoimplement?• Questionsyouwanttoask?
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TechnicalAssistanceandMaterials• PowerPointpresentationsandmaterialsforthisconferenceatwww.niwap.org/go/NOLA2015
• NIWAPTechnicalAssistance:– Call(202)274‐4457– E‐[email protected]
• APIIDVTechnicalAssistance:Interpretation Technical Assistance&ResourceCenter(ITARC)– [email protected]– [email protected]
• WebLibrary:www.niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu
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Questions
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Evaluations
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Thankyou!
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UniversityWashingtonCollege of Law
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THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY GRANT NO. 2013-TA-AX-K009 AWARDED BY THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE OPINIONS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED INTHIS PUBLICATION/PROGRAM/EXHIBITION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR(S) AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.