Language Access at Crime Scenes: Improve Successful...

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


LearningObjectivesBytheendofthisworkshop,youwillbebetterableto:• Understandhowtoimproveinvestigationsbyusinglanguageaccesstools

• Enhancevictimsafetyandparticipationinthecriminaljusticesystem

• Uselanguageaccessandcertificationprogramstoenhanceofficer/victim/communitysafety

• Improvecommunitypolicinginimmigrantcommunities

3NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

ParticipantIntroductions,Goals,andExpectations


MajorChallengesWorkingwithImmigrantVictimsofCrime

• Language,LimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)

• Fearofdeportation• Lackofknowledgeoflegalrights• Donottrustthatpolice/prosecutorswill

helpthem• Lackofreportingand/orcooperationas

thecasemovesforward


FirstResponders–Whatdoyoudowhenyouarriveatacrimescene?


FirstResponse• Locateandsecurethescene• Arethereanyweapons?• Isanyoneinjured?• Identifythepeopleinvolved:

– Victim– Offender– Witnesses

• Ifoffenderisnotonthescene:– Whereisthesuspect?– Aretheyacontinuingdanger?– Issuspectinpossessionofweapon?


WhatdoyoudowhentheindividualsatthesceneareLEP?

Howcanyougettheinformationyouneedtosecurethescene?


TitleVI‐ CivilRightsActof1964• AnyrecipientofFederalfinancialassistancehasaresponsibilitytoensureaccess/understandingtoLEPpersons

• DepartmentofJustice(DOJ)stronglysuggests,butdoesnotrequireawrittenlanguageassistanceplanbeputinplace– Thisdoesnotprecludetheobligationoftherecipient

• DOJdiscouragesuseofinformalinterpreters(familymembers,guardians,caretakers,friends)exceptinlimitedoremergencysituations

• DOJleavesthedeterminationofwhatdocumentsneedtobetranslatedforthebenefitoftheLEPpersonsuptotherecipient


DOJModelGuidance• Policeprovidefreelanguageaccessto:

– LEPpersonswhorequestit– Whenanofficerdecidesitishelpfultothecriminalinvestigationorprosecution

• Policewillinformmembersofthepublicthatlanguageassistanceisavailablefreeofcharge

• Languageaccessisprovidedinpersonsprimarylanguage


DOJandExigentCircumstances

• Usethemostreliabletemporaryinterpreteravailabletoaddressexigentcircumstances:

– Fleeingsuspect

–Weapons

– Threatoflifetoanofficer,victim,orthepublic


ExigentCircumstances:WhatYouDoNowMattersLater

PROS• Safety• IDoffender• Locateweapons• Admissiblestatements(ExcitedUtterances)

CONS• MistakenIDofoffender• Arrestofvictim• Misinterpretationresultsininaccuratestatements

• Traumatochildren


Nowthattheemergencyisover,howdoyouworkwithvictims,witnesses,andoffenderswhodonotspeakEnglish?


TheInvestigationBegins• CallDetective• CallFire/Rescue• Takeinitialstatements• Callcrimescene• Photograph• Formalinterviewsatthestation• Developprobablecause• Preparecaseforprosecution


LanguageResources• LanguageLine• Departmentinterpreterslinedevelopedinresponsetolargelocalrefugeepopulation

• Immigrantcommunitybasedorganizationpartners

• Healthcareproviders• Schoolsystems


BilingualOfficerv.Interpreter

• Bilingualofficers– Whentheyareinterpreting,theyarenotinvestigating

• Biculturalismv.bilingualism– Differentwordshavedifferentmeanings:

• e.g.,Variationsontheword“highway”dependingonwhatstateyou’refrom


TipsforWorkingwithInterpreters

• Controltheinterview• Pre‐sessionwiththeinterpreter

– Wherearetheylocated?– Establishwhatyourrulesare

• Howdoyouwanttheinterpretertointerpret?

• Interpreterhastointerpreteverythingthatyousay– Example:whenyouareexplainingconfidentiality


DOJRequirementsforInvestigations&Interrogations

• “Aqualifiedinterpretershallbeusedforanyinterrogationortakingofaformalstatementwherethesuspectorwitness’legalrightscouldbeadverselyimpacted”– Criminalinterrogations– Crimewitnessinterviews

• Vitalwrittenmaterialstranslatedintoprimarylanguage– Mirandawarnings


WhoareIndividualswithLimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)?

• IndividualswithLEPdonotspeakEnglishastheirprimarylanguageandhavealimitedabilitytoread,write,speak,orunderstandEnglish.

• Deaf(uppercase‘D’)referstoanidentitywithitsownculture,language,anddiversecommunities– ‘Deaf’referstoaphysicalcondition/impairment– Deafandhardofhearingoftenunderstoodasadisabilityissue,butisalsoalanguageissue


Meaning……

• Government&governmentfundedprogramsmustprovidemeaningfulaccesstoprograms&benefitstopersonswithlimitedEnglishproficiency

• Becauseapolicedepartmentreceivesfederalfunds,thenallyourprograms,activities,andbenefitsmustbelanguageaccessible

• Havinganincompetentlanguageserviceistantamounttohavingnoserviceatall*

*SummitLorainProjectcitingHandbookfortheLegalProfession,NationalAssociationofJudiciaryInterpreterandTranslators


PointsofIdentification

• Dispatch• Walk‐in• Onthescene• Accompanyingserviceagency(e.g.,ChildProtectiveServices)

• Callintostation• Others?


IdentifyingLEP• Useopen‐endedquestionsandclarifyingquestions

– Avoidaskingquestionsthatonlyrequireaonewordanswer

• ConsiderwhethertheindividualmixesEnglishandanotherlanguage

• Listentowhethertheindividualusesincompletesentencestoexplainthesituation

• Countryoforigin– startingpoint,butmaynotbetheprimarylanguageoftheLEPindividual

• Whatiftheindividualdoesnotwanttogetaninterpreter?– Stigma– Fearofcausinginconvenience “IwillberequestinganinterpreterbecauseIneedonetodomyjob…”


Definitions• Interpretation ‐ Processoforallyrenderingcommunicationfromonelanguagetoanotherlanguage(interpreter)

• Translation – preparationofawrittentextfromonelanguageintoanequivalentforminanotherlanguage(translator)

• QualifiedBilingualMember‐ Departmentmemberswhoidentifythemselvesas“bilingual”mustdemonstrate,throughaformalprocedure,whichhasbeenestablishedbytheCityorDepartment,competencytocommunicateinthesourcelanguagebydemonstratingtheabilitytolistentoacommunicationinonelanguage(sourcelanguage)andorallyconvertittoanotherlanguage(targetlanguage)whileretainingthesamemeaning


ModesofInterpretation• Simultaneous – Theprocessoforallyrenderingonelanguageintoanotherlanguagevirtuallyatthesametimethatthespeakerisspeaking

• Consecutive – Theprocessoforallyrenderingonelanguageintoanotherlanguageafterthespeakerhascompletedastatementorquestion

• SightTranslation– Therenderingofmaterialwritteninonelanguageintospokenspeechinanotherlanguage


InterpretationExercise1. PersonAwillreadtheparagraphoutloudandPersonBwill

attempttoreiterate/interprettheentireparagraphconsecutively,ineitherEnglishorthetargetlanguage

2. PersonBshouldnotlookatthematerialbeingreadbyPersonA3. PersonAshouldreadtheparagraphwithoutpausingand

PersonBwillnotbeabletoaskPersonAtorepeatthesentencesorutterances1. PersonB,however,cantakenotesasPersonAisreading

4. WhenPersonBhasfinished,PersonAwillthenbetheinterpreterandPersonBwillreadadifferentparagraphorexercisewiththesamerulesas#2


Summary≠ Interpretation• Summarizationis

– Notallowedinlegalandmedicalsettingsduetoprofessionalstandards

– Canleadtotheexclusionofcrucialinformationininterviewsorinterrogations

• Untrainedinterpretersresorttothismodebecausetheylacktheskillsforsimultaneousorconsecutiveinterpretation

• Cannotuseanuntrainedbilingualindividual,whomightusetheirdiscretiontosaywhattheyviewisimportantorsummarize,therebynotaccuratelyandcompletelyinterpreting


BilingualStaffversusInterpreter

BilingualStaff• FluentinEnglishandnativelanguage

• Notaconduitorneutralparty

• Nogovernmentstandard,butrecommendsassessment

• Qualified

Interpreter• Spokenlanguagefromonelanguagetoanother

• Training• Neutralparty• FluencyinEnglishandnativelanguage

• Conduittocommunicate• In‐person• Telephonic


BilingualStaffasInterpreterConsiderations

1.AreyoufluentinEnglishandtheforeignlanguage?2.Areyouabletointerpretintheconsecutiveorsimultaneousmodeaccurately?3.Areyoufamiliarwithspecializedterminologyofdomesticviolence&sexualassaultinthesourcelanguage?4.Canyouavoidaconflictofinterest?5.Canyoustayintheinterpreter’sroleandavoidfunctioninginthepolicerole?6.Willtherebeconfusionbyyourchangeofroles?7.Couldyoubeapotentialwitnessinthecase?8.Willyoubeinterpretingforthevictimandnotthebatterer?9.Willwaitingforaqualifiedinterpreternegativelyaffectavictim’simmediatesafety?


Meza Case‐ 2008• ChargedwithFirstdegreeMurder– Chargewasdroppedtomanslaughter– BabydiedafterMezashookhissonsoviolentlythechild’sbrainbegantoswell,ultimatelykillinghim

– DetectivesusedaSpanishspeakingofficertoassistwiththeinterview

– Reviewofthetapesrevealedthattheofficerinterpretingleftoutsomeoftheinformation,misinterpretedseveralstatementsmadebythesuspectandthedetective


AssessingInterpretationAbility• Certified:Passedlanguagetestingspecializinginlegalor

medicalsettings;shouldprovidecertificationnumberandstate;nativeornearnativefluency

• Registered:completedanEnglishfluencytest;shouldprovideregistrationnumberandstateregistered

• Qualified:Maynotbecertifiedorregistered,buthascompletedinterpretertrainings,fluentinbothlanguages,andunderstandsinterpreterethicsandcanons

• Assessingtheinterpretationskillwithoutcertification‐ Identifytheskilllevelneeded‐ Havingbilingualstaffassess‐ Usingarticlesandtextsinthetargetlanguage


QualifiedInterpreter• ProficiencyinEnglishandinterpretedlanguage• Caninterpretusingeithertheconsecutiveorsimultaneousmodesofinterpretation

• Knowledgeanduseofabroadrangeofvocabulary,subject‐specificterminology,andslang

• Knowledgeanduseofculturalnuances,regionalvariations,idiomaticexpressions,andcolloquialismsinallworkinglanguages

• Speakwithproperpronunciation,diction,andintonationinallworkinglanguages

• Abilitytolistentoandcomprehendvariousregionalaccentsand/ordialecticaldifferencesinallworkinglanguages

• Followinginterpreterethicalstandards


CodeofEthicsandProfessionalConduct• Accuracyandcompleteness

• Representationofqualifications

• Impartialityandavoidanceofconflictofinterest

• Professionaldemeanor• Confidentiality• Restrictionofpubliccomment

• Scopeofpractice• Assessingandreporting• Impedimentstocompliance

• Dutytoreportethicalviolations

• Professionaldevelopment


WorkingEffectivelywithanInterpreter• Explaintotheinterpreterthecircumstances• EverythingsaidbyyouandtheLEPindividualis

interpreted(includingfalsestarts,mumbling,cursing,thinkingoutloud,etc.)

• Maintainpauses/handsignalstoregulatethespeaker• Beattentivetoextraneousnoise• Useateamofinterpretersforeventslastingmorethan

twohours• BeawareoftheLEPindividual’seducationlevel• Explainand“breakdown”thelegalsystemandlegal

concepts• Donotgivetheinterpreteranyexplanatory

responsibilities


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


TelephonicInterpreter– LanguageAccessPlanProtocol

• Ensurethatpatrolcanaccessthetelephonicinterpretationservice– Smartphone– Needtoradiotohavephonebroughttothem– Personalcellphone

• Trainofficerstorecognizebadinterpretationandaskforanewinterpreterwhenneeded– Factorincircumstancessuchastime,emergency,andnecessity– Informtheinterpreterthatyouwillberequestinganotherinterpreter;then,telltheclientviainterpreter“Iwillberequestinganewinterpreter,pleasewaitasIcallinagainforanewinterpreter”

– Bestpracticeistorecordthebadinterpreter’sIDnumber


VettingandPreparingtheThirdParty• Qualifyingquestions

– Askaboutexperienceorcredentials– Isthepersoneducatedinbothlanguages?Havetheyworkedinbothlanguages?

– Howdidtheylearnthelanguage?– Relationshiptotheparty?

• Reviewinterpreterrole– Complete– Accurate– Neutral

• Recordtheuseofathirdpartybilingualspeaker


QualifyinganInterpreter:SpottingaBadInterpreter

• Canyouunderstandtheinterpreter?• DoestheLEPindividuallookconfused?• Doestheinterpreterappearconfused?• Istheinterpreterengaginginsideconversations?• Istheinterpreterengaginginconversationswiththeindividualbefore/aftertheinterpretationmeeting?

• Istheinterpretersummarizing?• Iseverythingbeinginterpreted?• Isthereachangeintheindividual’sdemeanor?


RelayInterpreting


Examples

• ExcerptfromSanFranciscoPoliceTrainingVideohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8qY1zi0tzc&feature=youtu.be

• CommunicatingwithLEPvideo


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


CaseScenario#1:

Arrivingatacrimescene,youfindthattherehasbeenarobberyandanassault.ThevictimisLEPwithbloodonherhead,screaming,andpointinginonedirection.AnEnglish‐speakingbystanderstatesthathesawamanrundownthealleyrightbeforeyouarrived.

1. What’sthebestchoicetocommunicatewiththeLEP?2. SecondBest?3. OKandLastResort?4. Unacceptable?


Considerations

• Useofchildren?Familyofvictimorbystander?• Isthereaninjury,imminentharmor,forimmediateinformationgathering,aneedtopursueasuspectwhilewaitingforaninterpreter?

• Willtherebeaconflictofinterest?• Seriousnessandinjury?


ExigentCircumstances

PROHIBITED,EXCEPTwherethereisimmediatedangerofseriousphysicalharm,orlifethreateningsituationtoanyperson:1. Usingchildrentointerpret2. Familymemberstointerpret3. Abilingualofficeroremployeeregardlessoflevelofbilingualcompetencyforpoliceinterrogations

4. Bilingualinmatestointerpret


CaseScenario#2Therehasbeenacaraccident.OneofthedriversisintoxicatedandisLEP.TheotherdriverbeginstomixSpanishandEnglishtogether.• Howwouldyougoaboutidentifyingthelanguageneededtoquestiontheintoxicateddriver?

• Howwouldyourequestlanguageassistancefortheotherdriver?

• ForBothdriversidentify:‐ Bestchoicetocommunicate?‐ Secondbest?‐ OKandLastresort?‐ Unacceptable?‐ Reasoning?


45

LargeGroupDiscussion

Basedonthetrainingtoday,whatwillyoutakebackwhenyoureturn

toyouragency?

• Whatmightyouwanttoimplement?• Questionsyouwanttoask?

45NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 45

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

46NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

Questions


Evaluations


Thankyou!

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,American

UniversityWashingtonCollege of Law

49

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.

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