In 2000, WRMA was contracted by the Judicial Council of California to study and make short- and long-term recommendations regarding additional languages to include in the certification program for court interpreters. The research methods included a survey of California trial courts with responses from all 58 counties; analyses of census and survey data from the United States Bureau of the Census; analyses of reports from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service; analyses of school enrollments of limited English proficient students; and a review of publications and Internet websites.
WRMA's report on findings and recommendations outlined trends in interpreter utilization by language and county, immigration trends of non-English speakers by language, and median length of time required for immigrants to learn English by age at time of immigration. Also analyzed were changes in the number of available "certified" and "registered" interpreters by language, as well as expected future need for interpreters by language. Finally, the report recommended criteria to use in determining when demand for interpreter services for a language has reached a level that merits adding it to the interpreter certification program.
