Advocates and community leaders view the expansion as a critical equity step, with ongoing efforts to ensure timely access to interpretation services and to train staff in best practices for serving LEP individuals.

Officials emphasize that language should not be a barrier to justice, with free interpretation for proceedings and translations of key documents such as summonses and notices.

A pilot program will extend translation services to court forms and notices, paired with training for court staff and partnerships with organizations like the New York Immigration Coalition and Make the Road New York.

Statistics show the scale: NYC households speak over 200 languages and over 1.5 million residents have limited English proficiency, with the expansion aiming to improve outcomes by ensuring interpreters and translated materials are widely available.

New York City courts are expanding language access across all five boroughs to help non-English speakers navigate the justice system, reflecting a city where more than 200 languages are spoken and a large share of residents speak a language other than English at home.

Practical steps for individuals include requesting interpreters early, choosing in-person or remote interpretation, and accessing translated documents, with guidance available through the NYC Language Access Plan and local legal aid groups.

Court-ordered translation and interpretation services are being broadened to more languages and are now available in civil, criminal, and family courts, prioritizing top languages like Mandarin, Arabic, Bengali, Haitian Creole, and Spanish in neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights, Sunset Park, and Flushing.

Improvements include a dedicated hotline and online portal to request translation services, along with a public awareness campaign to inform communities about their rights to interpretation services.

The expansion is positioned as a precedent for other jurisdictions, reinforcing language access as a fundamental right in NYC’s courts.