On Demand: Bridging Legal Systems: National Criminal Procedure in Latin America vs. U.S. Federal Courts (Self-Paced Course with Continuing Education Credits) 3 CEUs by AOC, ATA, OJD $30/Members

NOTIS’s Legal Division presents:

Bridging Legal Systems: National Criminal Procedure in Latin America vs. U.S. Federal Courts 

Presented by Katty Kauffman

NOTE: This is a pre-recorded workshop reformatted for on-demand viewing.

Course Description: 

Legal interpreters working in criminal cases must navigate the complexities of two distinct sets of judicial systems: the criminal justice systems of Latin America and U.S. court systems. This course provides an in-depth comparative analysis of criminal procedure reforms in key Latin American jurisdictions—Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico—and contrasts them with U.S. federal criminal procedure.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of terminological differences, procedural stages, and legal frameworks that impact their work in federal courts and state courts, particularly in Washington State. Special emphasis will be placed on terminological shifts resulting from legal reforms and the interpreter’s role in ensuring accurate, technically appropriate renditions.

Through case studies, procedural flowcharts, and guided terminology exercises, participants will enhance their ability to interpret accurately in U.S. federal and state legal settings when working with Latin American legal concepts.

Note: This workshop includes materials in Spanish and will be conducted in both Spanish and English.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key procedural differences between national criminal justice systems in Latin America and the U.S. federal criminal procedure, including stages from arrest to sentencing.

2. Understand and apply specialized legal terminology used in Latin American criminal procedure, with reference to key reforms that have standardized terminology.

3. Analyze procedural flowcharts from Latin American national systems and the U.S. federal system to improve their ability to anticipate terminology and procedural steps during interpretation.

4. Compare and contrast equivalent legal concepts such as arraignment vs. audiencia de imputación and plea bargaining vs. salida alterna, ensuring accurate renditions. When relevant, explore Washington State-specific terminology and procedural differences.

Click HERE for the Course Outline

Participants will receive presentation slides and handouts.

$30 NOTIS members, $50 nonmembers (Click to Join NOTIS)

After registering, you will receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation, your registration did not go through. Registration confirmation will include a video link, a quiz link, presentation slides, and instructions on how to receive a certificate of completion.

Steps on how to receive your certificate:

1. Watch the recording (3 hours).
2. Make a note of the two attendance codes from the recording.
3. Email the attendance codes to NOTIS (info@notisnet.org)

Agency Codes:
WA AOC - Washington Administrative Office of the Courts
OJD - Oregon Judicial Department
ATA - American Translators Association
WA DSHS - Washington Dept. of Social and Human Services
CA CIMCE - California Court Interpreter Minimum Continuing Education Credit
CCHI - Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters
IMIA/NBCMI - International Medical Interpreters Association/The National Board of Certification of Medical Interpreters

*Note: If the WA AOC has not approved this workshop by the time you request your certificate, it will not be listed on your certificate of completion. You can check the Continuing Education Class List later to see if it was approved. Please keep in mind that AOC decides the type of credit awarded, so it may differ from what NOTIS requested.
NOTIS issues proof of continuing education at the time it is earned. NOTIS does not guarantee the replacement of lost certificates.

Katty Kauffman is a seasoned conference and legal interpreter with a deep understanding of both Latin American and U.S. legal systems. She holds a law degree from Pedro de Valdivia School of Law in Santiago, Chile, and a certificate in Comparative U.S./Latin American Legal Reforms from American University’s Washington College of Law. A member of NAJIT and AIIC, she has contributed to the 2nd Edition of Fundamentals of Court Interpretation and served on the Editorial Board for the 2nd Edition of Sandro Tomasi's Criminal Law Dictionary. A sought-after speaker on Latin American criminal procedure reforms, Katty previously worked as a staff interpreter for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She now freelances as a conference and court interpreter from her home base in Washington, D.C.

 On-demand workshops are nonrefundable. Transfer of credit to another workshop is not allowed.

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