Policy Text
Correctional Services Page 1 of 5 6/14 (Rev 3/17)
MJ/RCCC
OPERATIONS ORDER
Interpreter Services
The purpose of this Order is to standardize the procedures for providing access to
interpreter services for non-English speaking and deaf or hard of hearing prisoners at
the Main Jail and the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (RCCC).
I. Policy
Correctional Services staff s hall endeavor to communicate effec tively with people who
have difficulty speaking English or who are deaf or hard of hea ring.
II. Interpreter Services for Non-English Speaking Persons
A. Custody staff will attempt to identify the language of priso ners who do not
speak English in order to provi de appropriate int erpreter servi ces as
needed to complete paperwork, conduct interviews, or perform ot her
necessary functions related to the prisoner’s custody.
B. Whenever possible, on-site int erpreter services should be us ed. If on-site
interpreter services are not a vailable, custody staff may:
1. Contact the County’s contrac t service with watch commander
approval.
2. Use the American Telephone an d Telegraph Company (AT&T)
Language Line Service.
a. The Language Line Servic e telephone number is:
(1) 1-800-874-9426
b. When prompted, enter the departm ent identification number:
(1) 101135.
III. Language Line Procedures
A. When possible, the requestor will notify the operator of the language
needed. If the language is not known by custody staff, the ope rator of the
language line can assist in identifying the language.
B. Custody staff will notify the operator of the following addi tional information:
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MJ/RCCC 1. Name, badge num ber and agency.
2. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department identification number .
3. Division, city, and state.
C. Custody staff will inform the in terpreter what information i s required from
the non-English speaking individual.
D. The interpreter will obtain t he information required and rel ay the
information back to custody staff.
E. Custody staff will use the phrase “ end of call ” to end the interview.
F. If the interpreter service is provided by Language Line Serv ices and
custody staff needs to record the call, the call must be routed through the
Sheriff’s Department Communica tions Bureau. The Language Line
service does not record telephon e calls for evidentiary purpose s.
IV. Interpreter Services for D eaf or Hard of Hearing Prisoners
A. Under the Americans with Disab ilities Act (ADA), people who are deaf or
hard of hearing are entitled to t he same services law enforceme nt
provides to anyone else. They may not be excluded or segregate d from
services, be denied services, o r otherwise be treated different ly than other
people.
B. Custody staff must provide the communication aids and servic es needed
to communicate effectively with people who are deaf or hard of hearing,
except when a particular aid or service would result in an undu e burden or
a fundamental change in the nature of the la w enforcement servi ces being
provided.
C. Custody staff must give primar y consideration to providing t he aid or
service requested by the person with the hearing disability.
D. Only the Sheriff or his or her designee can make the determi nation that
particular aid or service woul d cause an undue burden or a fund amental
change in the nature o f the law enforcement services being prov ided.
1. The Division Commanders are th e designees for Correctional
Services.
E. The County has multiple contra cts for interpreter services f or deaf and
hard of hearing prisoners:
1. Eaton Interpreting Services
a. Standard hours: M-F 0700-1800
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MJ/RCCC b. No advance notice , 2 hour minimum
c. Contact: 916-721-3636 or schedul ers@eatoninterpreting.com
d. Capabilities: After-hours, w eekend, emergency, deaf-blind
tactile interpreting, r eal-time captioning
2. Sign Language Interpreting Services Agency
a. Standard hours: M-F 0800-1700 b. 24 hours advance notice , 2 hour minimum
c. Contact: 916-483-4751 or info @signinterpreting.com
3. A Show of Hands
a. Standard hours: M-F 0800-1700 b. 24 hours advance notice , 2 hour minimum
c. Contact: 916-247-8859 or angelenefowler@aol.com
d. Capabilities: After-hours, w eekends, emergency, deaf-blind
tactile interpreting, r eal-time captioning
4. Class Act Alliance
a. Standard hours: M-F 0700-2100 b. 72 hours advance notice , 2 hour minimum
c. Contact: 916-759-4594 or classa ctinterpreting@ymail.com
d. Capabilities: After-hours, w eekends, emergency, deaf-blind
tactile interpreting, r eal-time captioning, Spanish sign language
5. Nor Cal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing
a. Standard hours: M-F 0800-1700
b. 1 week advance notice