Michigan’s Court System Studies Whether To Implement Certification Standards For Translators

Michigan’s court system is studying whether to implement certification standards for translators, an effort to address criticisms that help for those who aren’t fluent in English is uneven and sometimes violates suspects’ constitutional rights.

A report from the State Bar of Michigan issued in June 2010 concluded translation services are underfunded and “inconsistently applied across courts, in many cases in violation of constitutional and federal requirements.”

Court administrators are now considering whether to develop policies, training levels and continuing education requirements, are studying how much money courts spend for interpreters, and are looking for resources to find interpreters and ways to make changes in tough budget times.