Keeping Our Wits About Us: Interpreter Safety and Security in the Courtroom
Jennifer de la Cruz
As a staff interpreter for the State Trial Courts of California, I am continually reminded of something I grew up hearing: “Keep your wits about you.” Whether it’s because of a particular case that I can apply to my own life or something I see go wrong in the courtroom, I’ve learned to appreciate how a seemingly controlled situation can spin out of control, upsetting everything in its path. Security for Court Interpreters (Martin, 2006) contains just about everything we need to know about this issue and serves as an excellent basis for developing good practices. Some recent discussions on the NAJIT listserv inspired me to ponder what brought me to practice some of the safety and security habits that I have, why I developed them, and where I could stand to improve.
What first came to mind when thinking of safety and security was assumptions. We could assume that criminal matters pose more risk than civil matters. We might assume that a restrained defendant can’t move unexpectedly or that our defendants are always going to appreciate our help. Whatever practices we adopt need to strike a balance between the daily routine and the worst-case scenario. I’ve experienced some family law matters that turn ugly very quickly, civil matters so charged that the interpreter is caught in a veritable cross-fire and seen as the enemy, and defendants who head-butt their attorney—the list goes on and on.
How about our choices of clothing, jewelry and hairstyle? For example, courts have rules regarding footwear and professional dress, but should we exercise more caution in these areas if a particularly volatile situation is already expected? Should we assume the worst and wear our running shoes in case we need to get out of Dodge? By no means—but it doesn’t hurt to look closer at how these things could be used against us. Stepping back to avoid somebody swinging at me isn’t something I’d like to attempt while wearing stiletto heels, but even if not in precarious footwear, my keeping a proper distance and being more watchful of when I need to make a move are going to be crucial. My lovely locks aren’t something I’d like to have used to hold me hostage, so maybe my hair should go back in a clip when I work certain calendars. Even a particularly loud choice in clothing color or bulky accessories merit at least some thought. Our responsibility is to start by taking a look in the mirror to determine if there is anything of concern should there be a need to be on the defensive.
We should also consider any items we carry and how we carry them. Although it makes good sense to keep valuables in a safe place, it’s so common for us to have cell phones in our hands at all times that there are likely some of us who give in to the temptation to have them in-hand while interpreting. We are accustomed to using and caring for interpreting equipment, but cell phones can be taken for granted. Remember, they can be extremely valuable to people in jail, and one slip-up of leaving the cell phone behind as you walk away from the in-custody defendant could end in disaster. Having witnessed this very situation, it has helped me remember to take a personal inventory of what I bring to the interpreting situation and what I choose to leave out of the courtroom.
More than anything else, I think the attitudes we bring to the table about our daily work are what will make or break us when it comes to our safety and security. For example, I don’t interpret for many “gang cases” in my daily work, so my ability to understand defendant demeanor and to read between the lines is underdeveloped when it comes to cases where gang culture is a big factor. To make up for this lack of personal experience, I've read and watched documentaries and movies on this subject. Finding ways to gain experience with the psychological and cultural factors that could impact the behavior of those with whom we work can also help us develop the attitudes we need to improve our safety and security.
When we haven’t had enough exposure to situations to have experienced them first-hand, our management of safety and security concerns is largely guided by policies, procedures and practices. In my experience, however, nothing drives a point home like having lived through it myself or vicariously through a coworker. It’s very easy to become complacent and allow assumptions to guide our actions, especially in an environment where so many of the people we deal with on a daily basis are not only kind and thankful for our help, but a pleasure to work with. In addition to taking a look at our own actions and attitudes, and becoming familiar with the guidelines set out in Security for Court Interpreters, staying connected in the profession by sharing and reading about experiences of our colleagues on social media, blogs and listservs can be vital.
When all is said and done, we are responsible for continually improving our safety and security practices along with all our other skills and abilities, never treating it like a policy stuffed away in a drawer somewhere. Sometimes this comes with experience, and other times it’s something we have to actively work to gain. As we look at our continuing education, let’s not forget about this aspect of our profession. Even when we don’t get the credits for it, we will benefit in the end. Keeping our wits about us can turn into habit after a while, and will continue to serve us greatly in the court interpreting profession.
WORK CITED
Martin, Lorena P. (2006). Security for Court Interpreters. Retrieved from http://www.mncourts.gov/documents/0/Public/Interpreter_Program/Security_Manual_For_Interpreters.pdf
[The author holds a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish and is a Certified Court Interpreter for Spanish at both the California and Federal levels, as well as an ATA-Certified Translator (Spanish into English).]