NCJ Number
11111
Date Published
1973
Length
23 pages
Annotation
ATTEMPTS OF NEW YORK CITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES TO CROSS THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL BARRIERS IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH HISPANIC DEFENDANTS.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS CONFINED TO THE AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THE HISPANIC POPULATION IS CONCENTRATED. INTERVIEWS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS FACETS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THERE IS A DEARTH OF HISPANIC PERSONNEL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THAT THE PRESENT MEANS OF COPING WITH THIS SCARCITY IS INADEQUATE. NO CLEAR STANDARDS OR PROCEDURES EXIST TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN HISPANIC DEFENDANT SPEAKS ENGLISH WELL ENOUGH TO COMPREHEND PROCEEDINGS WITHOUT AN INTERPRETER. THE RESULT IS THAT MANY HISPANIC DEFENDANTS GO THROUGH PROCEEDINGS WITHOUT INTERPRETERS AND WITH ONLY A PARTIAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM. THE AUTHOR ALSO DISCUSSES THE LANGUAGE PROBLEMS AN HISPANIC PERSON ENCOUNTERS DURING ARREST AND INTERVIEWING. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT COURT INTERPRETERS OFTEN GIVE DEFENDANTS INCOMPLETE TRANSLATIONS. THERE IS A NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETERS IN COURTROOMS.