When Preparation Is a Matter of Respect – Interpreting Victim Impact Statements

By: Cecilia Moreira

Few moments in the courtroom are as powerful as a victim impact statement. For victims and their families, the victim impact statement is more than a procedural step in sentencing. It is the moment when they turn toward the defendant and speak directly to the court. They describe the sleepless nights, the empty chair at the table, the medical bills, the endless therapy sessions, the fear that lingers long after the courtroom lights go out. They articulate grief, anger, betrayal, confusion, and, sometimes, forgiveness. It is raw and it is personal.

When that statement must be interpreted, our responsibility changes in a particular way, the interpreter becomes the voice through which that message is delivered. It is a tremendous responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. The task is not only to convey words accurately but to carry the emotional force faithfully across languages. Preparation, in those moments, is not a luxury. It is essential.

I recall the exact moment when I felt something shifting: a sentencing at which the victim’s sister prepared a written statement after her brother was killed in a senseless street fight. Her grief was profound, but what sustained her was her faith. Her statement was deeply religious, interwoven with passages from the Bible that had given her comfort and strength. For her, those words were not ornamental. They were her foundation. They were how she made sense of her loss.

On that occasion, I was handed the statement approximately ten minutes before I had to sight-translate it in the courtroom, in front of reporters, TV cameras and, most importantly, the victim’s sister herself. As I always do, I reviewed it with pen in hand, marking syntactic shifts, identifying potential ambiguities, flagging proper names, and noting terminology that might pose a problem. When I reached the biblical passages, I paused. Rather than paraphrase or approximate them, I looked them up and wrote them out just as they appear in the Bible. I made clear notations indicating that they were direct quotations that I was to read and not sight-translate. I was not going to “wing” the religious text that was so central to her message.

Because I verified the quotations, I could deliver them with precision and confidence. Because I had the time to understand how integral those passages were to her statement, I could honor their weight without distortion. That brief window of preparation changed everything. My delivery would have been completely different had I been asked to interpret the statement sight unseen, a situation that unfortunately occurs far too often. It was then that I understood with renewed clarity that, in order to fulfill my obligation to convey every victim’s words with the utmost accuracy, I need to prepare in advance, both technically and emotionally.

In a moment designed to honor the victim’s experience, accuracy is essential. The interpreter’s ability to deliver that message clearly and completely is part of that honor. Victims deserve their message to be conveyed with the same care with which it was written.

As court systems continue to strengthen language access policies, it is worth recognizing that interpreters are professionals entrusted by the court with preserving meaning at some of the most consequential moments in a proceeding. When we are given the tools to prepare, we can fulfill that responsibility thoroughly. It is the difference between approximation and precision. And when we do prepare, the victim’s voice carries across language barriers exactly as it is intended to be heard: loud and clear.

Keep the Conversation Going

If this topic resonated with you, be sure to check out our previous blog posts for more insights on the realities of our profession, and the evolving world of judiciary translation and interpreting:

The Work Behind the Words: And You May Ask Yourself, "Well, How Did I Get Here?" — How do language skills, creativity, and curiosity come together in the world of subtitling?                                       

When Life Hits Turbulence  — How can we navigate life’s turbulence when unexpected challenges shake our sense of calm?   

Join the Conversation — A quick guide to commenting on The NAJIT Observer           

You can find these and more in our blog archives!

Interested in sharing your insights with our community? 

Check out Writing for The NAJIT Observer to learn how you can contribute.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position, policies, or views of the NAJIT Board of Directors or the organization as a whole. Content published in The NAJIT Observer is intended to encourage professional dialogue, reflection, and community engagement. Reader discretion is advised where topics may involve complex ethical, professional, or emotionally sensitive subject matter.