Image credit: Do Not Cross, Crime Scene taken by Yumi Kimura under Public Domain.
There are designated government officials and security personnel who are tasked to solve certain crimes. Though the government branch responsible for finding answers to crimes vary, they all aim to look for the suspect and eventually give justice to the victim. These people are highly skilled and trained in order to conduct a swift and fair investigation. However, no matter how good they are, they still need help in solving a crime in certain instances.
Among the services usually tapped by investigators are those of translators and interpreters. In one way or another, these people have helped in expediting the investigations. Here are some insights on how crimes can be solved with the help of translators and interpreters.
- Help is needed for investigations involving a foreign suspect. There are lots of cases where potential suspects are from another country. Usually, they are immigrants and most of them don’t even have legal documents with them. Asking their close relatives or their neighborhood might be a tough challenge as most of them don’t speak the language of the locals well. This is where interpreters enter the picture. With their help, interviews can be done smoothly. They can also help in looking for credible witnesses based on their words during interviews.
- Translators are needed when there are pieces of evidence written in a foreign language. Most of these documents cannot just be translated using online translators. Suspects have vast knowledge of the expressions and nuances in the said foreign language that may not be translated well by using an electronic translator. Thus, the help of a translator is necessary.
- Witnesses could also need help in speaking the language of the locals. Therefore, interpreters may interpret for them during preliminary investigations. When witnesses have to appear in court, interpreters may also speak on their behalf. There are even certain instances in which interpreters can act as the witnesses themselves especially if the witness decides not to cooperate later on. The words relayed through the interpreter could be used in prosecuting the suspect.
- Sign language interpreters are also needed for witnesses and victims who are deaf. For these people, cooperating in the investigation could be very difficult especially if no one understands them. However, with interpreters in front of them, they can now express everything freely.
The Right Interpreter for the Job
The moment interpreters or translators are hired to help out for the investigation; they become a part of the official investigation team. Thus, they are also subjected to the rule and regulations for the other members. They also have to stay loyal to the investigation team. Should they be caught lying under oath or are interpreting what witnesses say in a wrong way, they could face serious cases. This is why investigators only hire trusted people to do the job. They even prefer those who have experiences in working on a criminal investigation. There is too much at stake in this kind of job. Therefore, the authorities must seek all forms of help possible to achieve their goal. The absence of interpreters could really delay the process, and as the cliché goes, justice delayed, is justice denied.