Interpretation Information

For questions concerning the GPDSC Interpreter Program, please contact:

Vita Morales, Interpreter Coordinator
Georgia Public Defender Standards Council
124 N. Main Street
Swainsboro, GA 30401
478-289-2802
vmorales@gapublicdefender.org

GPDSC Policies on Interpreters
Interpreter Application and Fee Claim Forms
Supreme Court Rules on Interpreters for Non-English Speaking Persons
Downloadable Multilingual Forms for Use with Indigent Cases
Foreign Language Interpretation - Telephone & Other Services
Sign Language

The Administrative Office of the Courts
[Georgia Commission on Interpreters]

The staff at the Administrative Office of the Courts has asked that, prior to employing an interpreter, attorneys contact the Georgia Commission on Interpreters, 244 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 550, Atlanta, Georgia 30334-5900; (404) 463-6478/Fax: (404) 651-6449. They have detailed information about the specific qualifications of each interpreter. This is very important because the qualifications and experience vary greatly among the individuals listed in the registry.

The Commission's website has lists of both registered and certified interpreters by county or language. The page also contains training and certification information for intepreters seeking to be certified.

Interpreter Application and Fee Claim Forms
For use in public defender offices

Interpreter Application Form

Interpreter Fee Claim Form

Foreign Language Interpretation
Telephone and Other Services

Currently, there are several foreign language interpretation services that offer telephone services, including:

Language Learning Enterprises
Language Line Services
Certified Language International
CyraPhone from CyraCom International Inc.
TeleLanguage™ Services
Universal Dialog
Legal Language Services
Tele-Interpreters

Each of these companies offers a wide variety of languages in an over-the-phone format. For Spanish-only interpretation, there is Propio Spanish.

Additionally, in Atlanta, the not-for-profit company The Bridging the Gap Project, Inc. offers translation services in many languages. Bridging the Gap assisted the Georgia Indigent Defense Council in the preparation of a multi-lingual form book, translating four separate forms (affidavit of indigence, option to proceed with or without live interpretation services, waiver of counsel/entry of plea, and a chart of common answers to questions) from English to eighteen languages. A looseleaf book containing all of these forms was distributed to all Superior Court Judges and Indigent Defense Administrators in Georgia, while separate books containing only the affidavits were distributed to each of the Sheriffs. The forms will be made available in Adobe's PDF ("portable document file format") shortly, with a link to the form listings from here.

Additional information about The Bridging the Gap Project, Inc. can be obtained from:

The Bridging the Gap Project, Inc.
Translation Service Division
77 Forsyth Street SW, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: 404-581-0044
Facsimile: 404-581-0043
E-mail: btggah@btgonline.org

Because prices can vary without notice, it is best to contact the appropriate vendor prior to utilization of their services.

There are also web sites on the Internet that provide either online translation (such as SDL International's FreeTranslation, Google Language Tools, or Alta Vista's Babelfish) or software that allows for local interpretation/translation (example: Babylon.com).

Sign Language

It is mandated that Interpreters be provided for the deaf in governmental proceedings according to O.C.G.A. §24-9-100 et. seq. The Georgia Association of Rehabilitative Facilities, a non-profit organization, can be reached at (404) 523-6674. Their Georgia Interpretive Services Network's pay rate for RID certified interpreters is $30.00 per hour with a two (2) hour minimum. Travel and waiting time must also be paid, with travel compensated at $0.28 per mile. For sign language interpreter services, the Georgia Interpreting Services Network should be contacted first, preferably with ten (10) day's advance notice. Requests for immediate service (anytime within 48 hours), legal assignments, et.al. will be handled at a rate of up to $50.00 per hour. Contact: David Layne Morton Cowan, Network Coordinator, or the Georgia Interpreting Services Network for more information:

Georgia Interpreting Services Network
44 Broad Street, N.W.
Suite 503
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: 404-521-9100
Toll-free: 800-228-4992
Fax: 404-521-9121
E-mail: dcowan@gisn.org

Other interpretation service providers include:

Sign Language Interpreting Specialists, Inc.
770-531-0700 (voice)
770-287-9479 (tty)
Susan Eddy, CEO
SLIS,Inc@mindspring.com

The Interpreting Resource of Georgia
Fax: 770-928-6596

Communication Access Network of America, Inc.
A multi-level, multi-state sign language interpreting company, covering Savannah, Georgia; South Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; and San Diego, California:

925 Wappoo St, Ste B
Charelston, SC 29407

Atlanta Office: 678-528-0391
Atlanta TTY: 678-528-0391
Atlanta Fax: 843-571-6325
Jerrod Phillips, Service Coordinator
Email: jerrod@caninterpreters.com