Services for interpreters

Court Interpreter VAWA STOP Training

Date: March 27, 2026
Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Brookfield, WI
By invitation only

Target audience: Court interpreters (all languages)

Description

This training provides an in-depth exploration of trauma, domestic violence, and the critical roles professionals play within the court system when working with survivors. Participants will begin by examining how trauma impacts individuals experiencing domestic violence, including common trauma responses and the importance of approaching survivors with empathy and understanding. Through a survivor-centered lens, attendees will gain insight into the legal and human realities survivors face when navigating court processes.

The training will also focus on the role of court interpreters, emphasizing ethical responsibilities, professional boundaries, and ethical decision-making through real-world scenarios. A multidisciplinary panel of community advocates will share perspectives on the services domestic violence agencies provide, the barriers survivors commonly encounter in court, and key terminology used within diverse communities. The day will conclude with a session on vicarious trauma, addressing burnout, moral dilemmas, and strategies for maintaining professional well-being while working in emotionally demanding environments.

This training is designed for court interpreters who are seeking to enhance trauma-informed, ethical, and culturally responsive practices.

Learning objectives

1. Recognize and describe how trauma and domestic violence impact survivors’ behavior, communication, and decision-making in court settings.
2. Apply ethical standards specific to court interpreting when navigating complex situations involving trauma, domestic violence, and emotionally charged testimony.
3. Identify the roles of advocates and community-based domestic violence agencies and explain how their services support survivors before, during, and after court proceedings.
4. Assess the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout on interpreting practice and implement strategies to maintain professional well-being and ethical performance.

Cancellation policy

• All participants acknowledge that there are circumstances beyond the Wisconsin Court Interpreter Program's control that may require the training to be rescheduled.

Reasonable accommodations

• The Director of State Courts Office complies with civil rights laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or age. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Wisconsin Court Interpreter Program at interpreter.info@wicourts.gov.
• ADA POLICY: https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/docs/adapolicy.pdf

It is the goal of the Director of State Courts to provide a learning environment that is characterized by mutual trust and respect, mutual helpfulness, freedom of expression, and acceptance of differences. To achieve these goals requires the cooperation of our participants. We ask that participants strive to maintain a climate of mutuality among those present, an acceptance of others as full partners in the learning process, and an openness to the value and utility of the varying experiences and perspectives of everyone involved. We also ask that participants arrive on time for programming, return from breaks promptly, focus on the current topic of discussion, and participate actively in the learning process.