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 The
United States is the most culturally diverse society in the world.
Our government welcomes thousands of refugees, political asylees,
and other legal immigrants to our country each year. Although a
large percentage of immigrants learn to speak English, there are
thousands of those that continue to struggle. As a result, utilizing
interpreter and translator services has become a crucial part of
almost every governmental branch. This can be very costly if we
figure in not only the monetary value of such services, but a larger
time frame required when using services of an interpreter/translator.
In an attempt
to a) provide quality interpreter/translator services, b) cut costs
for law enforcement agencies, and c) make it easier for police officers
to do their job, we have come up with a solution in the form of
the FormsInLanguage (FIL) system.
The FIL system
is a comprehensive, secure service allowing written forms to be
translated into over 60 languages in real time. The mission of the
FIL system is to bridge the language gap servicing law enforcement
officials and officers.
To best describe
how the FIL system functions, here is an example of a possible scenario:
Once a police
officer, while on duty in the field, encounters an alleged suspect/victim/witness
with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), the officer has the following
options:
| 1. |
to
scout for a local interpreter by placing calls; |
| 2. |
to
rely on services of telephone interpreters; |
3.
|
to
take the alleged suspect to the police station even if it otherwise
would not be necessary; |
4.
|
to generate immediately forms in the LEP individual's native
language at the location of apprehension by using the FIL system. |
The first three
options are time consuming and will require the police department
to pay for interpreting services. Although interpreting services
are sometimes the only way to efficiently communicate with an individual
with LEP, there are many situations in which such costs could be
avoided. This is where the FIL system becomes the best and most
efficient solution particularly in the instance of infractions,
such as equipment and other traffic violations. Upon verifying the
LEP individual's native language, the officer logs onto the FIL
system website. The officer then selects the needed form, for example,
Implied Consent Form, chooses the language, for example, Vietnamese
or Arabic, and the standardized forms are generated momentarily.
They can then be presented to the LEP individual and confusion and
misinterpretations can be avoided. This system is available 24 hours
a day and also insures quality, as the forms are translated and
edited by certified and qualified translators. Having translated
forms in a variety of languages at their fingertips, officers will
be able to concentrate on all other aspects of their job; thus increasing
their effectiveness in their main task - keeping everybody safe.
Benefits of
using the FIL system:
| 1. |
Ease
of use |
|
The
FIL system consists of three easy steps: 1) logging onto the
FIL website, 2) selecting the needed language, and 3) selecting
the needed form. The use of the system requires minimal computer
skills for which officers can be instructed on-site. |
| 2. |
Time
efficiency |
|
Having
the FIL system at their immediate disposal 24/7, officers do
not have to require on-site interpreter services, telephonic
interpreter services, or make trips to the police station; hence,
saving a significant amount of time. |
| 3. |
Cost
efficiency |
|
The
FIL system can be accessed to generate translated forms as many
times a day as needed without accumulating charges for the police
department. However, the police department is billed for each
occurrence in which on-site or telephonic interpreter services
are utilized. |
| 4. |
Security |
|
The
FIL system is a secure system intended for servicing the law
enforcement and, as such, can only be accessed by designated
police officers. |
| 5. |
Range
of languages |
|
Forms
in over 60 languages are instantly accessed. This is especially
significant considering that it includes many languages for
which interpreters are often difficult to find but for which
interpreting services are nonetheless needed. In such cases,
the FIL system could save an even more significant amount of
time and spare the officer and the department of the frustration
of prolonged searches for interpreters. Also, the more difficult
it is to find an interpreter for a specific language, the higher
the cost of interpreting services. |
| 6. |
Proven
quality of language service |
|
All
the forms are translated and edited only by proven, highly qualified
and/or certified interpreters/translators. These professionals
have years of experience working with law enforcement agencies
which assures the quality of the translated forms. |
Using the FIL
system can as a result:
| 1. |
Increase
productivity and quality of police work |
|
Immediate
access to a variety of translated forms not only saves time,
which increases productivity, but also allows officers to concentrate
on their job without having to deal with interpreters or worry
about miscommunicating with the LEP individual, increasing quality
of work. |
| 2. |
Simplify
the communication process with the LEP individual |
|
Miscommunication
occurs even when there is not a language barrier. The frustration
that goes along with not being able to communicate in the same
language can be lessened with the officer presenting the LEP
individual with a form in their native language. A more positive
bond can be created between the officer and the LEP individual. |
| 3. |
Standardize
multilingual legal forms |
| |
With
standardized multilingual forms, the purpose and content of
the form is identical in each language so that each LEP individual
will comprehend the form uniformly. |
| 4. |
Decrease
expenses for interpreter/translator services |
|
Using
FIL system decreases the overall expenses for interpreter/translator
services. Such funds can then be allocated for other needs
of the police department.
The FIL
system is aimed at breaking down communication barriers and
simplifying frequent and necessary procedural interactions
between the police force and the community.
For further
information and/or specific questions regarding the FIL system,
please contact Bromberg & Associates at (248) 827-7164
or via e-mail to info@linguacity.com
http://www.linguacity.com/policeforms/
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