2010 Language Need and Interpreter Use Study

RFP Number: EOP-0860802-RB

The Court Interpreters Program (CIP) of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) seeks a consultant to conduct a study of language need and interpreter use in the California trial courts. California's state constitution mandates the provision of court interpreters for non-English speaking defendants in criminal matters. Every five years the Judicial Council is required under Government § 68563 to conduct a study of spoken language need and interpreter use in the trial courts. In accordance with § 68563, the Judicial Council is responsible for designating languages to include in the California Court Interpreter Certification Program. Decisions regarding the designation of languages are based on several components of the Language Need and Interpreter Use Study, including but not limited to: statewide and regional use of interpreters in the trial courts, including use in specific proceedings and use in specific events within a proceeding; the language needs of limited English proficiency (LEP) court users, and demographic trends in immigration patterns that influence potential increases or declines in interpreter use.

To better inform future decisions regarding interpreter use for hearing impaired or deaf court users, as well as interpreter use for non-mandated civil proceedings, the 2010 Language Need and Interpreter Use Study will include data collection and analysis of American Sign Language (ASL) and deaf interpreter use, as well as data collection only, for future analysis, of incidental interpreter use in non-mandated civil proceedings.

In conducting the 2010 Language Need and Interpreter Use Study, the consultant will be expected to develop qualitative and quantitative data collection protocols to determine the statewide and regional use of ASL and spoken language interpreters in the California trial courts during the period 2004 - 2008. The consultant will also be expected to develop data collection protocols for a study of actual time spent on interpreted activities for a predetermined time in a sample number of courts. In addition to interpreter activity in court proceedings, the consultant will be expected to conduct a number of statewide demographic analyses that will assist the Judicial Council in determining languages to be designated and included in the California Court Interpreter Certification Program and/or languages that should be considered for de-designation.

Statewide data will be collected using information captured in the Court Interpreter Data Collection System (CIDCS) and other independent data systems used by individual superior courts. Data elements collected by individual courts statewide may differ, requiring the consultant to map comparable elements for analysis.

Data elements not captured in the various systems may be obtained through other methodologies, including but not limited to: interviews and focus groups with court staff and a statewide court survey. Due to staff and/or budgetary limitations, observational study of court interpreters in courtroom proceedings may not be an option; however, the consultant will be expected to conduct a study of actual time spent on interpreted activities during a predetermined timeframe in a sample number of courts, using other creative qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.

Written proposals must be received no later than Monday 3:00 p.m., December 22, 2008. Please refer to the RFP document for additional key events and dates.

Hard copy proposals must be delivered to: Judicial Council of California Administrative Office of the Courts Attn: Nadine McFadden - EOP-0860802-RB 455 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102

Further information regarding this solicitation is set forth in Request for Proposal (RFP) No. EOP-0860802-RB.

Request for Proposals