D04 2013-01J: LAO Language Access Plan
In accordance with Supreme Court Administrative Order 2013-8, the Cass County Courts establish this Language Access Plan (LAP) to provide for the language access needs of users of the Circuit, Probate and District Courts.
This LAP is the plan for the Courts to ensure meaningful access to court services for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). A limited English proficient person is a person who does not speak English as his or her primary language, and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English, and by reason of his or her limitations, is not able to understand and meaningfully participate in the court process.
The purpose of the plan is to provide a framework for the provision of timely and effective language assistance to LEP persons who come in contact with the Courts.
The Courts have appointed a language access coordinator to be a contact person for the public, court staff, and SCAO concerning this plan and its implementation.
IT IS ORDERED:
Section I. Needs Assessment
A. Census Data
The court will make every effort to provide service to all LEP persons in the court's service area. The non-English language most frequently spoken in the court's physical jurisdiction:
- Spanish
- German
- Korean
- Laotian
B. Court Experience
Based on court usage, the following list shows other non-English languages spoken in the court and not reflected in the U.S. Census Data:
- Dutch
- Arabic
C. Identification of LEP Persons
Court staff use the following methods to identify LEP persons:
- "I Speak" cards
- Posting signage in multiple languages at points entry to the Law & Courts Building
- Assistance from bi-lingual employees
Section II. Language Assistance Resources
A. Interpreters Used in the Courtroom
The court will offer assistance to LEP persons in the courtroom by providing foreign language interpreters as required by Michigan Court Rule 1.111.
B. Language Services Outside the Courtroom
The court will take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to services outside the courtroom. This is one of the most challenging situations facing court staff, because in most situations they will encounter LEP persons without an interpreter present. LEP persons may come in contact with court personnel via:
- Telephone
- Clerk's windows
- Security desk
- Friend of the Court office reception
- Juvenile Court office reception
- Probation officers
Court staff will consult with the court's language access coordinator to determine what type of language service should be made available, based on the nature and imporatance of the court service to be provided and resources available.
Language access services will be offered in the most reasonable available resource to meet the specific needs of each LEP person and such services will include the use of language line and other telephonic interpreter services; "I Speak" cards; bi-lingual employees to interpret; and in-person interpreters.
C. Service Referrals
The court will make reasonable efforts to ensure that a non-federally funded entity to which the court refers LEP persons for services has provisions for addressing their needs. The court will consider viable alternatives if language access is not provided by such a non-federally funded entity.
D. Forms & Documents
The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) makes select translated forms available to the courts at http://courts.michigan.gov/Administration/SCAO/Forms/Pages/default.aspx.
- Additional translated forms available to court users include: N/A
When in-person interpreters are hired for court proceedings, tehy are expected to provide sight interpretation of documents for LEP persons. - Courthouse translation for LEP
- Bi-lingual employees
- Language line
E. Other Provisions
In an effort to provide LEP persons language access to court information, the court also provides the following: N/A.
Section IV. Public Notification and Evaluation of Language Access Plan
A. Language Access Plan Approval and Notification
The court's LAP has been approved by the State Court Administrative Office. The court will post its LAP on its public website (if available) or public notification area within the courthouse and will make copies of the LAP available upon request.
The court consulted with the following members of the community in creating its LAP:
- Director of Cass County's Community Mental Health Provider, Woodlands
- Prosecuting Attorney
- Sheriff
- Director of the Cass County Department of Human Services
B. Evaluation and Review of the LAP
at the direction of SCAO, or in its own initiative, the court will assess whether the LAP needs updating. The LAP will remain in effect unless modified or updated. Review of the following areas may indicate the need to update the LAP:
- Number of LEP persons requesting court interpreters or language assistance
- Funding provided or available for languages services
- Current language needs to determine if additional services or translated materials should be provided
- Feedback from LEP communities within the county
- Court staff (turnover, new hires, etc.)
- Feedback from trainings provided by the court or SCAO/MJI
- Viability of identified language services and resources
- Problem areas and corrective action strategies
- Updated census data
The language access coordinator for this court ensures this plan is followed, advises the court on potential updates to this plan, and coordinates the language access needs for the court as they arise. The court has identified the name and contact information of the language access coordinator and advised the State Court Administrative Office.
The court will notify the SCAO regional office of any changes to the language access coordinator's contact information, or if a new language access coordinator is named.