New Jersey Courts: Translation services to be enhanced following federal investigation

New Jersey’s court system is set to overhaul its translation and interpreter services after a federal investigation revealed discriminatory barriers faced by non-English speakers. This development follows a thorough investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The investigation, which spanned from 2019 to 2023, was triggered by a discrimination complaint filed in Monmouth County. The investigation uncovered significant shortcomings in how the court system provided vital court documents and information to individuals with limited English proficiency.

The findings pointed to inadequate translation of crucial legal forms, which impeded access to justice for non-English speakers. Also, court staff was deemed to be inadequately inform of language access policies and procedures.

As part of a resolution announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the judiciary agreed to several actions, including:

-Translating vital court forms and materials and making them available for distribution at courthouses.

-Developing mandatory language access training for its courts.

The agreement stemmed from an investigation into an accusation that Monmouth Vicinage courts discriminated against court users with LEP based on their national origins.

By Sept. 12, the judiciary must provide a list of reforms to improve access for residents with limited English proficiency, according to the agreement. Then, it must implement the reforms no more than 120 days after they are approved by the Justice Department.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department will monitor the changes for two years.

In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said, “People with limited English proficiency can lose their children, homes and fundamental rights when they face language barriers in our court systems. The Civil Rights Division will continue fighting to ensure that courts remove language barriers for the public”.