11/30/2006

News / Court interpreter pay examined

An influx in Hispanic immigration is putting a high demand on court interpreters and is one reason the state's foreign language interpreter system went over budget by $850,000 last year.

Judges in some counties have also paid state certified and non-certified interpreters equally, also contributing to putting the program in the red last year. The Administrative Office of the Courts, which pays certified and non-certified interpreters, is restructuring the program to cut costs.

There is a growing need to use the services of Spanish-speaking court interpreters, said Wilson County Clerk of Court Andrew Whitley. In District 7, which encompasses Wilson County, there is one Spanish-speaking state-certified court interpreter who works about three days a week in criminal and juvenile courts. Non-certified interpreters are only used when the certified interpreter is not available.

In North Carolina, there are about 50 certified Spanish court interpreters. Other interpreters have passed various test levels but have not reached certification, which requires passing exams and submitting to background checks.

To help identify the best interpreters, the administrative office is enacting a standard pay scale, with master certified interpreters earning about $40 an hour, and those with the fewest qualifications earning about $15 per hour.

Previously, state-certified interpreters earned $35 per hour while non-certified interpreters made $25 per hour.

"You shouldn't pay $25 an hour if the person isn't earning it," said Lee Albritton, a certified court interpreter who serves Wilson County occasionally but works regularly in Edgecombe and Greene counties. "It makes more free market sense to find those who are most qualified and pay them accordingly."

Inconsistencies in interpreter payments across the state have been a problem, said Senior Deputy Director Gregg Stahl.

"In one county, people were paid a set amount whether they were certified or not, so guess how many interpreters there were certified?" Stahl said last week. "Not very many.

"An overall reason we're seeking these changes is to control costs, Stahl added. "But we also want to utilize the most qualified interpreters whenever possible."

One of the first changes the administrative office has planned is to require all interpreters who register with the office to sign a contract. The contracts outline a code of ethics, travel rates and a pay scale.

Arianna Aguilar, a certified court interpreter who mainly serves Johnston County, said contracts would make work easier for all involved with the process.

"Right now, each judge can determine their policy as far as payments. It can be confusing keeping up with the different policies," Aguilar said. "To me, that's the best thing I'm looking forward to, the contracts."

Eventually court interpreters with the fewest qualifications will be weeded out, Stahl said. They will be given 12 months to complete at least an ethics course in order to remain contracted with the state.

The administrative office is also attempting to contact each interpreter and compile the person's information into a registry which it will monitor to ensure districts are being properly covered.

The changes in the foreign language interpreting program were scheduled to begin Friday. Stahl said some additional time may be given as districts and the administrative office get used to the adjustments.
By Sarah Thuerk Daily Times Staff Writer


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