|
Scheduling of certified court interpreters is currently a manual, labor-intensive process in most WA courts. When the need for an interpreter arises, often at the last minute, a clerk uses a list of interpreters to contact via telephone or email, with the job going to the one who is the first available responder. The least expensive, the most appropriate, or the nearest interpreter is not always scheduled, creating cost inefficiencies. Two district and one superior court in WA have implemented an automated system that allows interpreters to view proceedings requests and to schedule themselves as interpreters, regardless of whether they have ethical conflicts affecting any of the parties or were involved in past, related litigation involving one or more of the parties. While saving time, the systems are subject to manipulation by persons using automated scripts thereby preventing a more equitable opportunity to secure work through the online scheduling portal.
This request is to implement a statewide online scheduling application that could be viewed by all court interpreter scheduling staff. Using currently available, but customizable software, the court would be able to enter proceeding information (date, time, venue), the language requirement, the payment terms, the expected job duration, interpreter travel distance, etc., as search criteria. This would generate a list of interpreters who meet the criteria for the scheduler to select from and then contact via email for confirmation. It would also send date reminders or rescheduling information automatically to the selected interpreter.
The creation of a centralized, statewide-shared interpreter scheduling portal will also enable all the participating courts to utilize other forms of interpreting, such as telephonic or remote video interpreting, using the same cloud-based e-service.
.
|
|
This would allow schedulers to hire interpreters for multiple daily proceedings, cases, and parties. As the search algorithm will also be able to deterimine if an interpreter is available nearby on the same day, it would reduce travel costs, secure interpreters more quickly, and avoid double booking and duplication of work amongst all users.
As it would also create a master database of qualified interpreters in languages of lesser diffusion, it would avoid the very frequent need by court staff to do a mass email inquiry to other courts for information about such interpreters, which often results in duplicative responses.
|
|
As the new court user OS will also track language needs, this request should be part of a modular build, with other services such as remote video interpreting (VRI) capable of providing for user access by riding on the same shared court IT network being added on later as system needs for language access diversify beyond certain settings, such as may occur with direct services to the public at public service windows/booths.
|
