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2. 2 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. JUSTISIGNS is supported by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme This presentation reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

3. 3 Overall aim of JUSTISIGNS JUSTISIGNS – a transnational education and training project involving experts from Ireland, Belgium, UK and Switzerland. JUSTISIGNS – co-funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme JUSTISIGNS – runs from 2013 to 2016.

4. 4 RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT Directive 2010/64 EU on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings  Article 2 – The Right to Interpretation ….. 3. The right to interpretation under paragraphs 1 and 2 includes appropriate assistance for persons with hearing or speech impediments.

5. 5 Special problems of deaf people in legal settings: The common assumptions used when applying the law don’t work with deaf people. Lack of status or limited status afforded to sign languages inhibits access to information at stages of legal process. Limited understanding for constraints in interpreting process and additional challenges when working between spoken and signed languages.

6. 6 “I was pulled over by the police after being caught illegally taking over another car in areas that prohibited overtaking. The only way I could communicate with the police was to write things down - but it was late and dark. I was asked to follow them to the police station. At the police station I spotted the interpreter logo (a symbol of the sign INTERPRETER) I thought this was a positive sign. It was late at night and so finding an interpreter was not on the cards. Instead we conducted the interview by writing notes [...] not one part of the interview was signed (in BSL) or filmed. [...] The police officers suggested coming with me to my house and see if my wife or children were willing to act as an interpreter. There was no way I was going to allow my family to become involved in this situation…” (UK Deaf interviewee, Justisigns project)

7. 7 It was dark, Emmett was working on his motorbike in his garage A police car pulls up and shines headlights into the garage Police officers ask his name He holds up his hands to shield his eyes from the lights as he cannot lipread them They see he is holding a wrench The police officers shout at him to put down his wrench (“the weapon”) He doesn’t understand them They wrestle him to the ground and handcuff him The police officers shout at him Emmett is distressed as he doesn’t understand & also can’t communicate as his hands are cuffed

8. 8 Special problems of deaf people in legal settings: The common assumptions used when applying the law don’t work with deaf people. Lack of status or limited status afforded to sign languages inhibits access to information at stages of legal process. Limited understanding for constraints in interpreting process and additional challenges when working between spoken and signed languages.

9. 9 JUSTISIGNS offers training content for 3 target groups: Sign-language interpreters (specialization in legal settings) The Deaf community providing Deaf communities with a deeper understanding of the Triadic Relationship within legal settings. Police and legal professionals (developing communication skills for police interviewing)

10. 10 Different legal settings: -Court room -Interaction with lawyer -Police services  focus of JUSTISIGNS project -etc. Reason: Police often first point of contact  effective communication is vital for ensuring fair process through all instances.

11. 11 European overview of sign language interpreting provision in legal settings: -SLI is not consistently provided in legal settings -SLI agencies are primary source of SLIs -SLIs specialized in legal settings are difficult to book -No specific Code of Conduct for legal interpreting -SLI qualifications vary from country to country -Few training programmes for SLIs, no specialization for legal contexts offered

12. 12 RESULTS of the JUSTISIGNS PROJECT: An online course for sign language interpreters, Deaf community and front-line legal professionals available across the JUSTISIGNS European network A communication guide for police working with Deaf communities and sign language interpreters An information resource for Deaf people in their national sign language to better understand the legal framework in each country

13. 13 RESULTS OF THE JUSTISIGNS PROJECT: Outreach seminars for the Deaf community Deaf awareness training for legal professionals and police forces Masterclasses for sign language interpreters Training posters and communication tips A European documentary highlighting problems, practices and policy

14. 14 Award winning MEDISIGNS project (2010-2012) *)  Model for JUSTISIGNS *) The MEDISIGNS project was one of seven winners awarded the 2013 European Language Label for innovative ways of teaching and learning languages.

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18. Questions to audience: Do you have any experience with SLI and, if so, what? Would you recommend to SLIs, judicial stakeholders and the deaf communities in your country to follow the JUSTISIGNS training course? Would it be possible to use the training material in your country if the text were translated? Would a similar project for spoken language interpreters be useful? Please reply to: info@eulita.eu 18

19. Example “I was pulled over by the police after being caught illegally taking over another car in areas that prohibited overtaking. The only way I could communicate with the police was to write things down - but it was late and dark. I was asked to follow them to the police station. At the police station I spotted the interpreter logo (a symbol of the sign INTERPRETER) I thought this was a positive sign. It was late at night and so finding an interpreter was not on the cards. Instead we conducted the interview by writing notes [...] not one part of the interview was signed (in BSL) or filmed. [...] The police officers suggested coming with me to my house and see if my wife or children were willing to act as an interpreter. There was no way I was going to allow my family to become involved in this situation…” (UK Deaf interviewee, Justisigns project) 19

20. Example of deaf person not reacting to verbal police request It was dark, Emmett was working on his motorbike in his garage A police car pulls up and shines headlights into the garage Police officers ask his name He holds up his hands to shield his eyes from the lights as he cannot lipread them They see he is holding a wrench The police officers shout at him to put down his wrench (“the weapon”) He doesn’t understand them They wrestle him to the ground and handcuff him The police officers shout at him Emmett is distressed as he doesn’t understand & also can’t communicate as his hands are cuffed 20