Rauch Companies, L.L.C. P.O. Box 783 Millburn, NJ 07041

Tel 973-921-0800 Fax 973-921-0800 http://www.rauchcom.com Email: info@rauchcom.com

Overview

The Telephone Interpreting Pilot Project will primarily provide the services of certified Spanish interpreters and other certified or registered interpreters, if available, to 11 remote counties via telephone using equipment developed by Rauch Companies, L.L.C. The pilot project will be conducted for one year, after which time a study will be performed to measure the effectiveness of telephone interpreting. The primary purposes of this pilot program are to facilitate access to the courts for non-English speaking individuals in geographically isolated areas and to decrease the use of noncertified interpreters. The pilot program is also intended to minimize the number of delayed or continued cases. It is not intended to replace an available, live, certified interpreter but may be an acceptable alternative to using a live, noncertified, unqualified interpreter.

Mechanics

The pilot will operate as follows: Courts identified as having a demonstrated need for interpreters ( "receiver courts") will have courtrooms designated for receiving remote telephone interpreting. These rooms will be equipped with the Courtroom Conference System, which includes a conference phone, two extension microphones, and a cordless phone with which the non-English speaking party will exclusively speak and listen to the interpreter. The off-site interpreter working from a central location ("provider courts") would have a headset, a boom microphone, and a console with voice- level adjustment controls. The console has two lines so that the interpreter can listen to the non-English- speaking party on one line and render his or her interpretation on the other line. All participants will be given a fax machine to send important case information to the off-site interpreter.

Receiver Courts

The Superior Courts of Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kern, Merced, Mono, Nevada, San Benito, Shasta, and Tulare Counties were selected to participate in the in the pilot because they (1) have a frequent need for interpreters and (2) depend on noncertified interpreters to meet that need.

Provider Courts

The Superior Courts of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Kern Counties will be providing the services of certified Spanish court interpreters, and if available, certified and registered court interpreters in other languages.

Benefits of Pilot Project

Unlike commercial telephone interpreting services, only California certified interpreters will perform services under this pilot, thus ensuring that the quality of interpreting meets the minimum standards set by rule of court. In addition, the equipment allows both simultaneous and consecutive interpreting, and the costs of the equipment, long-distance calls, and interpreter's time will be borne by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

Please write directly to the Judicial Council of California to learn more about their Telephone Interpreting Pilot Program.