Petition to Bring Awareness of the Use of Non- State Registered & Certified interpreters
Petition to Bring Awareness of the Use of Non- State Registered & Certified interpreters
The Issue
To the Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program, Office of the State Courts Administrator
Florida Supreme Court Building.
To the National Center for State Courts
300 Newport Ave, Williamsburg VA 23185
Phone: (800) 616-6164
And to the 20 Judicial Circuits in Florida, which some span several counties.
Certified interpreters in Florida are suffering from a lack of respect to our many sacrifices and commitment to become a high quality interpreter. The court and those hiring our services depend on our work and knowledge.
In order to offer the best possible service we must follow the Florida Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program. As you can see below, we must comply with certain requirements: Classes, orientation, written and oral testing, Continual Education Credits, hours of Interpreting experience, fees for renewal and for the classes, to name a few.
We understand that many counties in FL operate a little different in the use of interpreters. There are counties that are obligating the interpreters to carry a special more expensive auto insurance, they , understandably so, adhere to punctuality or the pay will be deducted, also if they make an error in interpretation in court. I believe this is only for Spanish, since few courts have additional personnel that speak multiple languages to determine the interpreter’s performance and accuracy, I feel that if you use Certified interpreters you can and should be able to rely on a competent interpreter, normally another interpreter can assist with an error, I find their rulings demeaning to our profession and unnecessary. Our point in bringing this up is that anyone that goes through the process of becoming a Certified Interpreter has to be a committed person. The months it takes, the money it cost to attain it and maintain with the necessary courses.
We are now very confused as to why the courts are utilizing “interpreters” not certified. This is not only an insult to our profession, but a huge disfavor to the non-English speakers, the Courts and the attorneys that rely on unbiased accuracy to present their case. Of course, being in Florida, this issue has been seen with our own eyes. Civil courts, where a huge issue in someone’s personal life or their children’s is to be determine by the court this is customary. I do not see why their understanding or their addressing the court should be of less importance. You cannot use the secretary, the cousin, etc., that is totally unacceptable. If the person cannot afford a private interpreter, then there should be Court departments where certified interpreters can be of assistance, even if by video.
I have heard of agencies that send out “interpreters” and these persons have no experience or knowledge. Not only are they monopolizing our field, some being multi-million dollar companies, but many instruct their “interpreters to say that they are certified and some even give them an ID saying this. These agencies of course charge exorbitant amounts to the attorneys and pay these eager untrained interpreters a measly salary, their assistant make one phone call, they get the interpreter and any other expert and no matter the cost, the client picks up the tab for inferior services.
Even the State is using non State Certified interpreters to do their transcripts! Some of these transcripts are being done by interpreters hired by the Agents or authorities. That cannot be deemed an unbiased transcript and should not be accepted in court as evidence, in particular when even comments are inserted in the transcript. A transcript requires knowledge and research of vocabulary and subject; all words must be used within the context and without speculation. Not even the court can use their in-house interpreters, therefore they hire certified freelancers. How is an interpreter without a Certification or hired by the authorities going to testify as an expert witness on her unbiased work and experience? Remember that AI has no ethical canons to which to abide. It is not 100% accurate.
We as interpreters must protect one another , we cannot allow to be forced to do what another interpreter should not, it is wrong for all, to allow agencies to send an uninformed interpreter on an all-day assignment, when they thought it was going to be two hours, that is abusive and creates inaccuracies due to mental fatigue. These agencies have little knowledge about our field, and most only care about the money they can make.
While in the process of taking our classes, some by video, we hear interpreters in other states that have the same complaint, therefore this is an epidemic that must be stopped nationwide.
Covid set us all back, and we are all trying to get on our feet and once again to rake in the fruit of our hard labor and sacrifices, but who can compete against lying greedy rich agencies?
We ask that the Program that created the compliance, now to please stand for our rights and support us.
We need all courts and attorneys where the proceeding will be directly court related to hire Certified interpreters. We all have our Identification cards to prove to the attorneys and courts beforehand that we are Certified interpreters. It would take the Judicial Assistant a few seconds to confirm our number online. Those that are offering the courses that maintain us trained and abreast of court changes will soon, when the word is out, they will not have many interested in their training. After all, you can still maintain a job, make enough, and not go through the hours of training or the expenditure, so why bother then? Those instructors should stand by us too. Remember that if you use an interpreter not registered with the State as Provisionally Approved, Registered or Certified , that interpreter is not obligated to follow the Codes of Ethics that we must follow to maintain our Certification, they will have no consequences with inaccuracies, unprofessional demeanor, confidentiality or any of the Canons to which we must adhere.
The link below provides our professional requirements and code of ethics and is mandated by the Florida Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program. It contains 28 pages, you can find it here:
Please we ask all Interpreters to sign this petition. It will be forwarded to all mentioned above. We must bring awareness to the travesty occurring in our field and the consequences that it brings to all involved. This is happening where rules and laws should be equally followed, giving us all the same opportunities and fairness, to those that are performing the services and those that are receiving it.
We thank you for reading this and helping us bring back the importance, need and dignity of our professionalism and services.
78
The Issue
To the Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program, Office of the State Courts Administrator
Florida Supreme Court Building.
To the National Center for State Courts
300 Newport Ave, Williamsburg VA 23185
Phone: (800) 616-6164
And to the 20 Judicial Circuits in Florida, which some span several counties.
Certified interpreters in Florida are suffering from a lack of respect to our many sacrifices and commitment to become a high quality interpreter. The court and those hiring our services depend on our work and knowledge.
In order to offer the best possible service we must follow the Florida Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program. As you can see below, we must comply with certain requirements: Classes, orientation, written and oral testing, Continual Education Credits, hours of Interpreting experience, fees for renewal and for the classes, to name a few.
We understand that many counties in FL operate a little different in the use of interpreters. There are counties that are obligating the interpreters to carry a special more expensive auto insurance, they , understandably so, adhere to punctuality or the pay will be deducted, also if they make an error in interpretation in court. I believe this is only for Spanish, since few courts have additional personnel that speak multiple languages to determine the interpreter’s performance and accuracy, I feel that if you use Certified interpreters you can and should be able to rely on a competent interpreter, normally another interpreter can assist with an error, I find their rulings demeaning to our profession and unnecessary. Our point in bringing this up is that anyone that goes through the process of becoming a Certified Interpreter has to be a committed person. The months it takes, the money it cost to attain it and maintain with the necessary courses.
We are now very confused as to why the courts are utilizing “interpreters” not certified. This is not only an insult to our profession, but a huge disfavor to the non-English speakers, the Courts and the attorneys that rely on unbiased accuracy to present their case. Of course, being in Florida, this issue has been seen with our own eyes. Civil courts, where a huge issue in someone’s personal life or their children’s is to be determine by the court this is customary. I do not see why their understanding or their addressing the court should be of less importance. You cannot use the secretary, the cousin, etc., that is totally unacceptable. If the person cannot afford a private interpreter, then there should be Court departments where certified interpreters can be of assistance, even if by video.
I have heard of agencies that send out “interpreters” and these persons have no experience or knowledge. Not only are they monopolizing our field, some being multi-million dollar companies, but many instruct their “interpreters to say that they are certified and some even give them an ID saying this. These agencies of course charge exorbitant amounts to the attorneys and pay these eager untrained interpreters a measly salary, their assistant make one phone call, they get the interpreter and any other expert and no matter the cost, the client picks up the tab for inferior services.
Even the State is using non State Certified interpreters to do their transcripts! Some of these transcripts are being done by interpreters hired by the Agents or authorities. That cannot be deemed an unbiased transcript and should not be accepted in court as evidence, in particular when even comments are inserted in the transcript. A transcript requires knowledge and research of vocabulary and subject; all words must be used within the context and without speculation. Not even the court can use their in-house interpreters, therefore they hire certified freelancers. How is an interpreter without a Certification or hired by the authorities going to testify as an expert witness on her unbiased work and experience? Remember that AI has no ethical canons to which to abide. It is not 100% accurate.
We as interpreters must protect one another , we cannot allow to be forced to do what another interpreter should not, it is wrong for all, to allow agencies to send an uninformed interpreter on an all-day assignment, when they thought it was going to be two hours, that is abusive and creates inaccuracies due to mental fatigue. These agencies have little knowledge about our field, and most only care about the money they can make.
While in the process of taking our classes, some by video, we hear interpreters in other states that have the same complaint, therefore this is an epidemic that must be stopped nationwide.
Covid set us all back, and we are all trying to get on our feet and once again to rake in the fruit of our hard labor and sacrifices, but who can compete against lying greedy rich agencies?
We ask that the Program that created the compliance, now to please stand for our rights and support us.
We need all courts and attorneys where the proceeding will be directly court related to hire Certified interpreters. We all have our Identification cards to prove to the attorneys and courts beforehand that we are Certified interpreters. It would take the Judicial Assistant a few seconds to confirm our number online. Those that are offering the courses that maintain us trained and abreast of court changes will soon, when the word is out, they will not have many interested in their training. After all, you can still maintain a job, make enough, and not go through the hours of training or the expenditure, so why bother then? Those instructors should stand by us too. Remember that if you use an interpreter not registered with the State as Provisionally Approved, Registered or Certified , that interpreter is not obligated to follow the Codes of Ethics that we must follow to maintain our Certification, they will have no consequences with inaccuracies, unprofessional demeanor, confidentiality or any of the Canons to which we must adhere.
The link below provides our professional requirements and code of ethics and is mandated by the Florida Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program. It contains 28 pages, you can find it here:
Please we ask all Interpreters to sign this petition. It will be forwarded to all mentioned above. We must bring awareness to the travesty occurring in our field and the consequences that it brings to all involved. This is happening where rules and laws should be equally followed, giving us all the same opportunities and fairness, to those that are performing the services and those that are receiving it.
We thank you for reading this and helping us bring back the importance, need and dignity of our professionalism and services.
78
Petition created on June 29, 2023