Interpreters sought for casino-crime cases

Associated Press

BETHLEHEM, Pa.

Officials in one eastern Pennsylvania county are scrambling to find Chinese speakers to deal with court proceedings stemming from the influx of Asian gamblers coming from New York to the local casino.

In Northampton County, the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is being marketed to the Asian community in New York, so buses bring in more than 1,000 people daily.

But since the nearest court-certified Chinese interpreter is in New Jersey, officials are at a loss when someone is arrested at the casino on theft or other charges. That has left defendants sitting in court, attorneys unable to communicate with clients and language-service bills exceeding $1,000 in a month.

Officials recently huddled on the issue and plan to ask colleges in the area if they have speakers of Mandarin, Cantonese and smaller dialects who could become certified for court interpreting.

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