How to Request an Interpreter

The Rhode Island Judiciary (Judiciary) provides court interpreters to limited English proficient court users at no cost. Interpreters are provided through the Office of Court Interpreters (OCI). Interpreters are utilized for a variety of criminal and civil matters including: arraignments, reviews, hearings, trials, and conferences for both parties and witnesses in legal proceedings in all courts of the Judiciary.​
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    How do I let the court know that I need an interpreter?
    I am in the courthouse and need an interpreter. Notify the court clerk or sheriff. If you are unable to locate a court clerk or sheriff, you can contact the OCI at (401) 222-8710.
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    I have an upcoming court date and will need an interpreter. I do not have an attorney. Contact the OCI at OCI@courts.ri.gov or (401) 222-8710 as soon as you receive your court date.

    Attorneys and Courts Users Represented by Counsel. I have an upcoming court date and will need an interpreter: Attorneys must notify the court clerk and request an interpreter for an upcoming hearing date as soon as the court date is received.

    To ensure that a court interpreter is available for your court appearance, please contact the court as soon as you receive your court date. Matters involving languages other than Spanish may require additional lead time to secure an interpreter. Be sure to contact the OCI as soon as you know that an interpreter will be needed.​
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    Are the services of the interpreter free?
    Yes. When an interpreter is requested, that service is provided at no cost to the court user.​
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    Will the court have an interpreter that speaks my language?
    Yes. The Judiciary employs eight (8) full-time Spanish interpreters to provide interpreting services to court users. In addition, the Judiciary contracts credentialed interpreters to provide interpreting services for languages other than Spanish. Each year the Judiciary provides thousands of language access services in over (30) different languages. Matters involving rare languages or languages of lesser diffusion will require additional lead time to secure an interpreter. Please contact the OCI as soon as you receive your court date.
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    Can a family member or friend interpret for me in court?
    No. The judicial process can be complex and sensitive. To ensure accuracy and maintain the integrity of the judicial process, the court does not allow family members or friends to interpret for court users. The court will provide a highly skilled court interpreter trained in courtroom interpreting at no cost to the court user.​
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    Will my interpreter give me legal advice or explain the proceedings?
    No. Court interpreters have an obligation to remain neutral and impartial. Court interpreters are unable to provide legal advice, guidance, or advocate on your behalf. We recommend that you contact an attorney licensed to practice law in Rhode Island if you need legal advice or guidance.
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    What does an interpreter do?

    An interpreter is a trained, experienced, impartial professional. The interpreter will interpret everything that is said during court proceedings completely and accurately, making every effort to retain the register and tone of the utterance as well as the content. For example, if a person says in Spanish, “I want to speak to a lawyer,” the interpreter will interpret exactly in English, “I want to speak to a lawyer.”​

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    Are interpreters provided at all of the courts?
    The Judiciary provides interpreting services in all courts. The Judiciary does not include municipal courts or probate courts. If you need an interpreter for a municipal or probate court matter, you must contact the local court directly.
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    Will an interpreter be available for my court date?
    The OCI will begin working to secure an interpreter for your court date as soon as the request is received. Once again, we cannot stress enough that you should request an interpreter as soon as you receive your court date by contacting the OCI at OCI@courts.ri.gov​ or (401) 222-8710. If you have an attorney, your attorney must submit the request to the court clerk.
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    How can I make a complaint or give feedback?

    Please email interpreterfeedback@courts.ri.gov to provide comments or give feedback regarding services provided by an interpreter. To file a complaint, please complete the Language Assistance Complaint form located in the Quick Links section on this webpage and email the form to interpreterfeedback@courts.ri.gov​.​

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    What assistance can I receive if I am deaf or hard of hearing?
    The Judiciary provides communication accommodations such as American Sign Language interpreters, Certified Deaf Interpreters, and CART through the ADA Office at no cost to court users. If you are need of an accommodation, please contact the ADA Office at ADA@courts.ri.gov​.​

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