Interpreting for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases consists of three self-paced interactive modules (30-60 minutes in length) guided by a virtual coach. Participants in the course will be immersed in first-person encounters and interactive learning. They can move through the course with several navigational tools and may return to various learning points.

Modules I and 2 of the course offer a learning experience for interpreters as well as other professionals in the justice system who may encounter domestic violence and sexual assault survivors with limited English proficiency. The third module focuses on interpreter skills and knowledge of important ethical considerations for interpreting in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault. Although this information is designed for interpreters, professionals who work with interpreters in domestic violence and sexual assault cases also will find it helpful.

In Module 1, participants will learn to:

Recognize the unique dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault
Understand the impact that language differences, culture, immigration status, and trauma may have on LEP survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their efforts to access safety and justice
In Module 2, participants will learn to:

Experience an LEP survivor’s journey through the civil and criminal justice systems
Understand the challenges and language barriers LEP survivors may encounter in the court process
Recognize the critical points where knowledgeable and culturally-appropriate court interpretation and translation are needed
In Module 3, participants will learn to:

Understand a set of guiding principles of ethical interpretation in domestic violence and sexual assault cases
Recognize risks to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault when ethical principles are breached
Conduct a self-assessment of interpreter readiness for interpreting assignments
Estimated Time to Complete Course
Module 1: An introduction to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: 30 min.
Module 2: Navigating the Civil and Criminal Justices Systems: 45 min.
Module 3: Guiding Principles for Ethical Interpretation in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases: 60 min.

NOTE: This course awards a certificate of completion upon successfully passing an assessment quiz for each module of the course.
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) produced this course with support from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice. NCSC thanks our project partners, subject-matter experts, and OVW staff for their valuable substantive contributions to content and their expert guidance on overall course development. They include: Marjory Bancroft, Director and Founder of Cross-Cultural Communications; Cannon Han, former Director of Interpretation Technical Assistance and Resource Center (ITARC), and Wendy Lau-Ozawa, Senior Project Manager, for the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence; Jean Bruggeman, Executive Director of Freedom Network USA; Lois M. Feuerle, Oregon Health Authority Council on Health Care Interpreters; Isabel Framer, President and CEO of Language Access Consultants, LLC; Hon. Ramona Gonzalez, Circuit Court Judge, La Crosse County, WI; Martha Cohen, Manager, Office of Interpreter Services, King County (WA) Superior Court; Julie Aldrich, Grant Program Specialist, and Neelam Patel, Team Lead for Training and Technical Assistance for OVW.