At a Glance
According to 2011 U.S. Census Bureau data, "[o]f 291.5 million people aged 5 and over, 60.6 million people (21 percent of this population) spoke a language other than English at home."
With respect to people's interactions with government organizations, efforts have increased to ensure that those who do not speak English or have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) can have meaningful access to our core social institutions - including the courts. Some ATJ Commissions have provided leadership in promoting language access in the justice system.
Key Resources
ATJ Commission Resources
- The Hawaii ATJ Commission used an ABA ATJ Innovation Grant to produce educational materials on language access and implicit cultural bias.
- The District of Columbia's ATJ Commission helped secure funding to launch a shared interpreter bank for legal aid lawyers and clients.
- Language Barriers to ATJ in California (2005)
Other Resources
- ABA Standards for Language Access in Courts
- "Language Access Planning & Technical Assistance Tool for Courts" - U.S. Dep't. of Justice (February 2014)