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Monday, June 11, 2007
Ind. Courts - More on interpreter grants
Supplementing this ILB entry from June 6th, titled "Clark, Floyd courts receive interpreter grant", here is a story today in the Evansville Courier & Press by Katherine Braser headlined "Courts say 'hola' to grants." It begins:
The Rev. Simon Leon is used to getting calls at his home at all hours from non-English speakers who face court charges."They are concerned because they don't know the system, the laws, nothing," he said. "It can be an intimidating thing. I try to calm them down."
Leon is one of two interpreters who regularly serve Spanish-speaking people at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse.
This week, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties were among 38 in the state to split a total of $168,250 in grants to help pay for court interpreters.
Warrick County received $1,250 and Vanderburgh County received $4,000.
The grants are part of an effort by the Indiana Supreme Court to increase access to justice, especially for those who do not speak English. * * *
The grant money comes from $100,000 set aside by the Indiana Legislature and $68,250 contributed by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Awards this year ranged from $250 to $30,000. Allen County, Ind., received $30,000 because of a death-penalty case for a Spanish-speaking defendant that will likely be tried this year.
Leon said in Vanderburgh County, the grant is money well spent. He spends every Monday and every other Wednesday assisting Spanish-speaking clients at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse. On Mondays, he helps from 12 to 31 clients and on Wednesdays, he assists in eight to 20 cases.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 11, 2007 07:46 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts