Attachment_(4)_Code_of_Professional_Conduct_Linguists-_CRM.pdf

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

CRIMINAL DIVISION

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

FOR LINGUISTS

APPLICABILITY

This code shall guide and be binding upon all persons, agencies and organizations who administer, supervise use, or deliver interpreting services while under contract with Criminal Division.

CANON 1: ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS

Linguists shall render a complete and accurate interpretation or sight translation, without altering, omitting, or adding anything to what is stated or written, and without explanation.

CANON 2: REPRESENTATION OF QUALIFICATIONS

Linguists shall accurately and completely represent their certifications, training, and pertinent experience.

CANON 3: IMPARTIALITY AND AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Linguists shall be impartial and unbiased and shall refrain from conduct that may give an appearance of bias. Linguists shall disclose any real or perceived conflict of interest.

CANON 4: PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR

Linguists shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the dignity of the court and shall be as unobtrusive as possible.

CANON 5: CONFIDENTIALITY

Linguists shall protect the confidentiality of all privileged and other confidential information.

CANON 6: RESTRICTION OF PUBLIC COMMENT

Linguists shall not publicly discuss, report, or offer an opinion concerning a matter in which they are or have been engaged, even when that information is not privileged or required by law to be confidential.

CANON 7: SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Linguists shall limit themselves to providing comprehensive language services.

CANON 8: ASSESSING AND REPORTING IMPEDIMENTS TO PERFORMANCE

Linguists shall assess at all times their ability to deliver their services. When linguists have any reservation about their ability to satisfy an assignment competently, they shall immediately convey that reservation to the appropriate contract manager & government authority.

CANON 9: DUTY TO REPORT ETHICAL VIOLATIONS

Linguists shall report to the appropriate contract manager & government authority any effort to impede their compliance with any law, any provision of this code, or any other official policy governing court interpreting and legal translating.

CANON 10: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Linguists should strive to continually improve their skills and knowledge and advance the profession through activities such as professional training and education, and interaction with colleagues and specialists in related fields.

Receipt Acknowledged:

(PRINT NAME) (SIGNATURE) (DATE)

(The preceding Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters is from the Model Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters in the Judiciary prepared by the National Center for State Courts (Hewitt, “Court Interpretation: Model Guides for Policy and Practice in the State Courts”))