Justice System Personnel and Providers: Language Access Needs Assessment

Language Access in the Courts: A Needs Assessment

In 2013, the Nebraska Judicial Branch will develop a Language Access Plan with recommendations for improving the provision of interpreter services in the state courts. As part of this process, the Judicial Branch is conducting an assessment to obtain stakeholder feedback on the quality and availability of court interpreter services. Stakeholders for this survey include: attorneys, court personnel, judges, probation personnel, OJS personnel, DHHS personnel, diversion providers and representatives from any other entity providing services related to the courts.

Please assist us with this process by taking 10 minutes to complete this brief electronic survey. A response by December 21st is appreciated. Your responses will be treated confidentially and will not be presented in a manner that identifies individual respondents. Thank you in advance for your feedback and assistance in improving our state court system.

Question Title

* 1. Please indicate your level of agreement with each statement:

	No Opinion	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
Judges make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc.	Judges make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc. No Opinion	Judges make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc. Strongly Disagree	Judges make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc. Disagree	Judges make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc. Agree	Judges make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc. Strongly Agree
Court personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc..	Court personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc.. No Opinion	Court personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc.. Strongly Disagree	Court personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc.. Disagree	Court personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc.. Agree	Court personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, witnesses, etc.. Strongly Agree
Probation personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, victims, parents, etc.	Probation personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, victims, parents, etc. No Opinion	Probation personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, victims, parents, etc. Strongly Disagree	Probation personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, victims, parents, etc. Disagree	Probation personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, victims, parents, etc. Agree	Probation personnel make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking defendants, victims, parents, etc. Strongly Agree
Service providers make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking probationers.	Service providers make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking probationers. No Opinion	Service providers make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking probationers. Strongly Disagree	Service providers make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking probationers. Disagree	Service providers make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking probationers. Agree	Service providers make every effort to accommodate non-English speaking probationers. Strongly Agree
I believe that the courts are meeting the needs of the LEP communities.	I believe that the courts are meeting the needs of the LEP communities. No Opinion	I believe that the courts are meeting the needs of the LEP communities. Strongly Disagree	I believe that the courts are meeting the needs of the LEP communities. Disagree	I believe that the courts are meeting the needs of the LEP communities. Agree	I believe that the courts are meeting the needs of the LEP communities. Strongly Agree
I think that the courts should provide more training for interpreters.	I think that the courts should provide more training for interpreters. No Opinion	I think that the courts should provide more training for interpreters. Strongly Disagree	I think that the courts should provide more training for interpreters. Disagree	I think that the courts should provide more training for interpreters. Agree	I think that the courts should provide more training for interpreters. Strongly Agree
I think that court personnel need more training on the role and function of court interpreters.	I think that court personnel need more training on the role and function of court interpreters. No Opinion	I think that court personnel need more training on the role and function of court interpreters. Strongly Disagree	I think that court personnel need more training on the role and function of court interpreters. Disagree	I think that court personnel need more training on the role and function of court interpreters. Agree	I think that court personnel need more training on the role and function of court interpreters. Strongly Agree
Interpreters receive fair compensation for their services.	Interpreters receive fair compensation for their services. No Opinion	Interpreters receive fair compensation for their services. Strongly Disagree	Interpreters receive fair compensation for their services. Disagree	Interpreters receive fair compensation for their services. Agree	Interpreters receive fair compensation for their services. Strongly Agree
I am comfortable using remote interpreter services via technology.	I am comfortable using remote interpreter services via technology. No Opinion	I am comfortable using remote interpreter services via technology. Strongly Disagree	I am comfortable using remote interpreter services via technology. Disagree	I am comfortable using remote interpreter services via technology. Agree	I am comfortable using remote interpreter services via technology. Strongly Agree
Interpreters are generally available in the languages requested.	Interpreters are generally available in the languages requested. No Opinion	Interpreters are generally available in the languages requested. Strongly Disagree	Interpreters are generally available in the languages requested. Disagree	Interpreters are generally available in the languages requested. Agree	Interpreters are generally available in the languages requested. Strongly Agree
Interpreters used by the court are qualified and competent.	Interpreters used by the court are qualified and competent. No Opinion	Interpreters used by the court are qualified and competent. Strongly Disagree	Interpreters used by the court are qualified and competent. Disagree	Interpreters used by the court are qualified and competent. Agree	Interpreters used by the court are qualified and competent. Strongly Agree
Interpreters used by probation are qualified and competent.	Interpreters used by probation are qualified and competent. No Opinion	Interpreters used by probation are qualified and competent. Strongly Disagree	Interpreters used by probation are qualified and competent. Disagree	Interpreters used by probation are qualified and competent. Agree	Interpreters used by probation are qualified and competent. Strongly Agree
Interpreters used by service providers are qualified and competent.	Interpreters used by service providers are qualified and competent. No Opinion	Interpreters used by service providers are qualified and competent. Strongly Disagree	Interpreters used by service providers are qualified and competent. Disagree	Interpreters used by service providers are qualified and competent. Agree	Interpreters used by service providers are qualified and competent. Strongly Agree

Comments:

Question Title

* 2. To what extent are you concerned about the following with respect to the provision of interpreter services?

	No Opinion	Not Concerned	Somewhat Concerned	Concerned	Strongly Concerned
Finding the right languages	Finding the right languages No Opinion	Finding the right languages Not Concerned	Finding the right languages Somewhat Concerned	Finding the right languages Concerned	Finding the right languages Strongly Concerned
Communicating with deaf communities	Communicating with deaf communities No Opinion	Communicating with deaf communities Not Concerned	Communicating with deaf communities Somewhat Concerned	Communicating with deaf communities Concerned	Communicating with deaf communities Strongly Concerned
Understanding cultural issues	Understanding cultural issues No Opinion	Understanding cultural issues Not Concerned	Understanding cultural issues Somewhat Concerned	Understanding cultural issues Concerned	Understanding cultural issues Strongly Concerned
Scheduling in-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations	Scheduling in-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations No Opinion	Scheduling in-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Not Concerned	Scheduling in-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Somewhat Concerned	Scheduling in-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Concerned	Scheduling in-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Strongly Concerned
Scheduling out-of-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations	Scheduling out-of-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations No Opinion	Scheduling out-of-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Not Concerned	Scheduling out-of-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Somewhat Concerned	Scheduling out-of-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Concerned	Scheduling out-of-court matters for Limited English Proficient and deaf populations Strongly Concerned
Translating written material	Translating written material No Opinion	Translating written material Not Concerned	Translating written material Somewhat Concerned	Translating written material Concerned	Translating written material Strongly Concerned
Getting parties to the right place at the right time	Getting parties to the right place at the right time No Opinion	Getting parties to the right place at the right time Not Concerned	Getting parties to the right place at the right time Somewhat Concerned	Getting parties to the right place at the right time Concerned	Getting parties to the right place at the right time Strongly Concerned

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. In the last two years, are you aware of any situations where a Limited English Proficient individual needed an interpreter but didn't have one?

Don't Know

Yes

If yes, please describe the point in the system and the reason why services were not available:

Question Title

* 4. Are you aware of any points in the system, prior to court proceedings, where Limited English Proficient individual may need interpreter services but do not have access to them?

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* 5. Are you aware of any points in the system, following court proceedings, where individuals who are Limited English Proficient may need interpreter services but do not have access to them?

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* 6. Have you ever received a complaint regarding the quality of language interpreter services?

Yes

If yes, what was the nature of the complaint:

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* 7. If you did receive a complaint regarding interpreter services, what process would you use to handle the complaint?

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* 8. Has your court or agency experienced any of these problems with interpreters (check all that apply)?

Interpreters carrying on conversations with the non-English speaker instead of interpreting all of the information

Interpreters not interpreting all of the information

Interpreters summarizing

Problems with interpreter’s advocacy for/against a victim, witness, or defendant.

Other (please specify)

Justice System Personnel and Providers: Language Access Needs Assessment

Language Access in the Courts: A Needs Assessment

Question Title

* 1. Please indicate your level of agreement with each statement:

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* 2. To what extent are you concerned about the following with respect to the provision of interpreter services?

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* 3. In the last two years, are you aware of any situations where a Limited English Proficient individual needed an interpreter but didn't have one?

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* 4. Are you aware of any points in the system, prior to court proceedings, where Limited English Proficient individual may need interpreter services but do not have access to them?

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* 5. Are you aware of any points in the system, following court proceedings, where individuals who are Limited English Proficient may need interpreter services but do not have access to them?

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* 6. Have you ever received a complaint regarding the quality of language interpreter services?

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* 7. If you did receive a complaint regarding interpreter services, what process would you use to handle the complaint?

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* 8. Has your court or agency experienced any of these problems with interpreters (check all that apply)?

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* 9. In your opinion, which languages, if any, lack a sufficient representation of certified or registered interpreters?

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* 10. To your knowledge, which counties, if any, lack a sufficient representation of certified or registered interpreters?

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* 11. In your opinion, how could efforts to recruit interpreters be improved?

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* 12. What recommendations would you make to improve interpreter services?