APO Policy Recommendation: Interpreter Services

This memorandum provides feedback on the Austin Police Department’s (APD) General Orders regarding interpreter services. Austin Police Oversight (APO) recommends expanding department policy to include all languages when prioritizing certified bilingual officers, clarifying requirements for officers serving as translators, and outlining APD’s obligations under federal law. APO also advises defining what constitutes a “reasonable period of time” for interpreter availability, scheduling interpreters for all interviews and interrogations involving deaf or hard‑of‑hearing individuals, developing a policy for remote interpreting services, and updating policy to reflect the City’s requirement for a signed waiver of language access rights.