ABA Pass Motion for Uniform Spanish Language Translation

On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Miranda Rights, the American Bar Association (ABA) passed a motion calling for a uniform Spanish language translation. A right to silence warning given by police in the United States to suspects in custody, it is used to preserve the admissibility of their statements against them in proceedings.

Each year, about 800,000 native Spanish speakers are detained yet law enforcement authorities around the country have failed to communicate effectively with those in custody. Examples of non-verified version of Spanish translations have surfaced and results have been “woeful” as described by the ABA’s Special Committee on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities. The report suggested that many authorities either relied on their limited knowledge in Spanish attained from high school or depended on unqualified interpreters such as those related to the defendant. In other cases, translations include made up words such as “silento” while some takes on a completely different meaning from the original source. As a result, a Texas State Representative stated that many had “made decisions incorrectly due to the way it’s explained.”

50 years later, many are now demanding a uniform translation as they fear that their rights will be jeopardized. By removing the language barrier, ABA hopes to not only ensure the rights of those in question but also to reduce tension between criminal suspects and law enforcement authorities.