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| Release Date:
October 31, 2000 |
Release Number:
61 |
New Study Confirms California’s Changing Demographics
State Judicial Council Releases Study Showing Growing Need for Court
Interpreters
San Francisco—The Judicial Council today released the results of a new
study on language needs and interpreter use in the California court system.
Based on the study’s findings, the Judicial Council has designated five
new languages for the Court Interpreter Certification Program.
The new languages are Armenian, Cambodian, Mandarin, Russian, and Punjabi.
The decision is significant because no new languages have been added since
1993.
“This is an important decision that will help ensure equal access to
justice in the California courts,” said Chief Justice Ronald M. George.
“Everyone is entitled to due process in the courts and a strong interpreters
program is critical in a state as diverse as California.”
The study shows that California’s demographics and interpreting needs
are rapidly shifting. Among key findings:
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In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 224 languages were spoken
in California. In 1999, according to the bureau’s Current Population
Survey, more than 4 percent of California’s 33.4 million residents spoke
no English at all.
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In 1998, California was the most popular intended destination for the nation’s
660,000 immigrants with 170,000 settling in the state.
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Fifty-six of California’s 58 counties reported providing interpreter services.
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The top ten languages by days of interpreter service during fiscal year
1998–1999 were Spanish (145,661), Vietnamese (9,197), Korean (3,716), Cantonese
(3,252), Armenian (2,730), Cambodian (2,112), Mandarin (2,100), Tagalog
(1,986), Russian (1,957), and Punjabi (1,491).
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Currently, there are eight designated languages for which a court interpreter
may be certified by the Judicial Council–Arabic, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean,
Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
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As of June 2000, there were 1,108 certified court interpreters in California.
The council wants to increase that number to 1,300 by June 2002.
“The Judicial Council has actively pursued recruitment of new court interpreters
for this important profession since the council became responsible for
certifying interpreters in 1993,” said William C. Vickrey, Administrative
Director of the California Courts. “The challenge now is to find
a sufficient number of court interpreters in the new languages identified
by the council.”
The Judicial Council has taken these key actions:
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Increased pay rates three times since 1999 and created an incentive-based
rate structure to attract and retain certified and registered court interpreters.
The current pay is $265 per day and $147 per half-day.
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Collaborated with schools and universities to create more educational opportunities
for those interested in becoming interpreters.
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Recruited prospective interpreters fluent in the languages most commonly
spoken, through public service announcements and job fairs.
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Hosted workshops to prepare applicants for the statewide interpreter exam.
The Judicial Council is actively recruiting for court interpreters in all
languages, but is particularly looking for Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean,
Armenian, Cantonese, Farsi/Persian, Tagalog, Cambodian, Laotian, Mandarin,
Arabic, Hmong, Punjabi, Russian, and Japanese.
Anyone interested in becoming a court interpreter should call 415-865-7530
or visit the Court Interpreters Web site at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/courtinterpreters.
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