Improving police and legal interpreting ( JLS/2010/JPEN/AG)

1. Improvingpoliceandlegalinterpreting(JLS/2010/JPEN/AG) The belgian/flemish case Katalin Balogh Heidi Salaets

2. OUTLINE • Introduction: directive 2010/64/EU • Belgium /Flanders • Case : Antwerp (Lessius) • Conclusions • Recommendations

3. Directive 2010/64/EU • Article2 (1): Suspected or accused persons who do notspeak or understand the language of the criminalproceedingsconcernedare provided, without delay, withinterpretationsduringcriminalproceedingsbeforeinvestigativeandjudicialauthourities, includingduringpolicequestioning, all court hearings andanynecessary interim hearings ImPLI= pre-trial phase

4. Directive 2010/64/EU • Recital 17, 24 and 26: • adequatelinguistic assistance […] toexercise the right of defenceandsafeguardingthe fairness of the proceedings. • Member statesshouldensurethatcontrolcanbeexercised over the adequacyof the interpretationandtranslation • When the quality of the interpretationis consideredinsufficienttoensure the right to a fair trial, the competent authoritiesshouldbeabletoreplace the appointedinterpreter

5. OUTLINE • Introduction: directive 2010/64/EU • Belgium /Flanders • Case : Antwerp (Lessius) • Conclusions • Recommendations

6. Belgium/Flanders: legal basis • 3 official languages: Dutch, French , German • Use of languages in court proceedings: language act of 15 June 1935 “court documents are draftedandjustice is dispensed in a single language” • justice in Fr/Du/Ge in the correspondinglanguageareas • 1 single language (fromsummonsto the enforcement of the judgment) = language of the seat of the court • 1 language in pre-trial phase

7. Belgium/Flanders: legal basis • Language determinedby the person beingheard right touse his mother tongue • Sworninterpreter must be made available • “Free of charge” = costsborneby the state

8. However … • No legalprovisionsthatclearlydefine “knowledge of the Dutch language”  WHEN a person is entitledto have aninterpreter?? • NOspecificBelgianlegislationgoverning court/sworninterpreters(Language act, Code of Criminal procedure, Civil procedure , European Arrest Warrant onlymention the interpreter) • profession of LIT (legalinterpretersandtranslators) can NOT beregulated • no sanctionspossibleforusing the title of sworninterpreterimproperly

9. OUTLINE • Introduction: directive 2010/64/EU • Belgium /Flanders • Case : Antwerp (Lessius) • Conclusions • Recommendations

10. Antwerp - Lessius GVT(= LIT) project = co-operationbetween court, police, bar association, Lessius/KULeuven Prof. Erik Hertog: pioneer dr. Katalin Balogh , dr. Heidi Salaets: responsibles 4 stages: 1 Entranceexam - admission 2 Training 3 Finalexam 4 Inclusionon the list

11. 1. Admission • Dutch test • Foreign language interpreting • Foreign language translating : • Dutch – foreign language • Foreign language- Dutch

12. 2. Training: five modules 1. Legal education and professional ethics • Introduction to law • Criminal law and code of criminal procedure • Civil law, family law, juvenile law • Ethics (impartiality, professional confidentiality, code of conduct…)

13. 2. Training: five modules 2. Legal Dutch and terminology 3. Legal methodology and heuristic • Search strategies for legislation, case law and legal doctrines • Information technology

14. 2. Training: five modules 4. Police module (! ImPLI) • Police structure • Role of the interpreter • Special assignments (investigation of the crime scene, reconstruction, searches of premises, wiretap) • Police hearings and techniques employed • Role plays

15. 2. Training: five modules 5. Court interpreting and translating • Basic skills (attitude, stress, cultural differences, ...) • Interpreting techniques (simultaneous, consecutive, whispered interpreting, sight translation) • Translation techniques (linguistic analysis of legal texts, study of sources of law, terminology)

16. 3. Finalexams • Written exam on legal issues (heuristic, knowledge of the legal system, terminology) • Interpreting: • Consecutive interpreting (short and long with notes) • Whispered simultaneous interpreting • Sight translation • Translating: • Translation of a legal text • Dutch – foreign language • Foreign language - Dutch

17. Finalexams: assessment • 3 tests fortranslationpart : • Translation test • Revision test • Recognition test (wrong – right answers) • Strictguidelinesfor assessment of skills and B2 language-level (CEFR)  meeting anddocumentsfor assessors

18. Finalexams: assessment • 1 test forinterpreting part : roleplaywith • Short consecutive (memory) • Long consecutive (notes) • Simultaneouswhispering • Sighttranslation • Strictguidelinesfor assessment of skills and B2 language-level (CEFR)  meeting anddocumentsfor assessors

19. Namely … • Assessment grids • 1 forlanguage assessor • 1 forlegal professional • Guidelinestofill in the grids (verygood – good – poor = ???) • Overview of requirements of B2-language level (oral)

20. Namely … • Withsimilarscenarios in the role-plays • X number of legalterms • X number of ethicalproblems • 4 intepreting skills tested

21. Toobtain a validandreliable screening Valid: the exam tests whatitpretendsto test namelylegalknowledge, interpretingandtranslation skills) Reliable : sameresultsifsubmittedseveraltimes) • Not a normbased assessment but CRITERION basedassessment: criterion = to have the necessaryskills andknowledgeto start the profession

22. So… Very few peopleenjoybeingassessed, but ifcandidates feel the process is transparentand fair, thentheywill, withluck, regardit as a necessaryexperience. (Maxwell-Hyslop, H., (2011),BMT, 52-61)

23. Results 2000-2011 +/- 1500 candidates for the entrance exam +/- 600 start training +/- 500 successful Link with the court: inclusion on list of sworn translators and interpreters

24. List of sworn translators and interpreters In the court: : +/- 1000 people – 53 different languages • Includes: • Training • Recommendation of Public Prosecutor’s Office • Swearing in and signing of ethical code

25. OUTLINE • Introduction: directive 2010/64/EU • Belgium /Flanders • Case : Antwerp (Lessius) • Conclusions • Recommendations

26. Conclusions Providewithout delay withinterpretations(…) includingduring policequestioning Adequate linguistic assistance Adequacy of interpretation/translation Fairness of proceedings Fair trial

27. ImPLI-objective = twofold 1. giveinstituteswho train interpreters the opportunity tobetterunderstand the interviewingtechniquesdevelopedbypolice, customsandprosecutionenhance training methods OK 2. toinformpoliceandprosecutionofficersaboutinterpretingtechniquesandroleto help them in their job  enhancequestioningefficiency  OK??

28. Policeacademy • New programmeforpoliceinspectors: 18 months (in stead of 12) • AntwerpPolice Academy is testcase • Lobby: to have a module on interpretermediatedquestioning, recruitment of professional interpreters, theirroleand code of ethics etc.

29. OUTLINE • Introduction: directive 2010/64/EU • Belgium /Flanders • Case : Antwerp (Lessius) • Conclusions • Recommendations

30. Principalrecommendations For trainers of interpretersandpolice ORGANIZE JOINT TRAINING MODULES FOR APPRENTICE POLICEMEN AND APPRENTICE INTERPRETERS (article 6 of the Directive)

31. Extenditto … Otherlegal professionals toraise awareness on the importance of workingwith professional LITs Results(seeexampleImPLI video Antwerp): • Professional attitude of the interpreterwhoknowshowtobehaveafter training & following his code of conduct • Professional attitude of the policeinspectorwhoknows the role of the interpreter & knowshowto act accordingly

32. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/87069413/ImPLI%20Lessius%20Final_MPEG%204%20DEF_01-09-2012%2800h06m04s-00h08m02s%29.mp4https://dl.dropbox.com/u/87069413/ImPLI%20Lessius%20Final_MPEG%204%20DEF_01-09-2012%2800h06m04s-00h08m02s%29.mp4

33. Thankyoufor your attention!