Working with interpreters in pre-sentence report interviews

Abstract

The National Probation Service, Lincolnshire has been using increasing numbers of foreign language interpreters in the assessment and management of offenders. This article reports on a small-scale study that was conducted as part of the Diploma of Probation Studies at De Montfort University into how interpreters are used in pre-sentence report (PSR) interviews in the Lincolnshire probation area. It analyses three case studies and draws conclusions for an improvement of practice when working with interpreters.