Measure Will Reduce Chances That Eyewitnesses To Crimes Provide Mistaken IDs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kirsten Bokenkamp, Communications Coordinator, ACLU of Texas, (832) 691-7013 or (713) 942-8146 x 109; [email protected]
AUSTIN – The ACLU of Texas urges state and local law enforcement to provide certified translators for non-English speaking eyewitnesses to reduce mistaken identifications, wrongful prosecutions and convictions.
“It is vital to have competent translation available when it comes to interviewing non-English speaking witnesses of crime. Ensuring that witnesses can effectively communicate with law enforcement through certified translators will both increase the accuracy of identifications and reduce the likelihood of wrongful conviction,” said Matt Simpson, Policy Strategist for the ACLU of Texas. “We also recommend that proposed model witness instructions are available in Spanish as well as additional languages as appropriate.”
Simpson is scheduled to testify this afternoon at a public hearing mandated by the Texas Legislature to develop model policy and procedures that can be used by Texas law enforcement for eyewitness identification.
For information on the hearing:
http://www.lemitonline.org/publications/documents/PublicHearingAustin12.01.11.pdf
