State OKs translators for domestic violence victims
Weinstein pushed to have funding included in budget
Terrified domestic violence victims often feel even more frightened by the justice system if they do not speak English. But now they will be getting some extra help when they go to court seeking orders of protection.
Translation services will be made available to non-English speaking victims in court thanks to Assemblymember Helene Weinstein (D-Sheepshead Bay-Flatlands-Canarsie), who worked with state Sen. Marisol Alcántara (D-Manhattan) to put funding in the state budget to make it happen.
Specifically, New York state will now require the Office of Court Administration to develop a phased-in program to translate, in writing, all court orders of protection into the top 10 most frequently used languages in the courts.