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Disciplinary Proceedings |
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Based on the hearing of evidence and witnesses and a review of the official record, the Hearing Committee will recommend to the Grievance Committee any further disciplinary action. The Grievance Committee will then be responsible to determine the exact measure of the discipline by majority vote of the committee members present at a meeting called for said purpose.
Proceeding with the meeting will require the presence of a quorum of members. Should the Grievance Committee desire further input before making a determination, they may call upon members of the Hearing Committee for comments.
It is the function of the Hearing Committee to hear the complaint and those members involved are fully cognizant of the details of previous proceedings. It should not be necessary for the Grievance Committee to review the official record.
The determination of the type and severity of disciplinary action will depend on the severity of the complaint in terms of lack of professionalism, non-adherence to the Code of Ethics, and the impact of the interpreter/transliterator's actions on the well-being of the complainant.
Potential Courses of Action
There is a range of potential courses of action, and the Grievance Committee may elect to choose one, several, or none of the possible options listed below. The committee may also choose to create a course of action tailored specifically to the circumstances of the particular complaint. At times, the implementation of a chosen course of action may require the participation of the complainant as well.
- The Grievance Committee may elect to take no disciplinary action on the complaint.
- The respondent may be required to attend some sort of educational workshop, seminar, or class that would ensure exposure to the kind of information that would aid the respondent to react differently in future circumstances than he or she did during the incident for which the complaint was filed.
Sample topics might include the Code of Ethics, use of an interpreter, the interpreter="s" role, or interpersonal communication. Workshop attendance could be included in the current CEH (Continuing Education Hour) requirement for certification maintenance, or could be levied as an additional requirement.
- The respondent may be placed on some sort of probation, where his or her actions would be monitored for a specified length of time to ensure that professional and ethical conduct is maintained. The director of certification would be responsible for overseeing the monitoring process and may designate a representative for direct observation.
- The respondent might be placed with a mentor who would act as a role model and teacher of the interpreter or transliterator. The committee could place a requirement for number of hours for the individual to work with the mentor, or establish a set length of time.
- The respondent could be placed on temporary suspension. The interpreter/transliterator would not be permitted to provide compensated communicative services for the required period of time. Suspension must not exceed one year in duration. Maintenance of certification by payment of dues and fees and earning of CEHs must continue during this period. At the end of the specified period, the director of certification will report to the Grievance Committee as to the current standing of the action. The Grievance Committee shall determine whether or not any and all conditions of the disciplinary action have been met. If the conditions are found to have been met, certification is reinstated.
- The committee may, as an action of last resort, revoke the certification of the interpreter/transliterator. This will necessitate the individual waiting for a specified length of time as determined by the Grievance Committee, then entering the certification process from the beginning by applying to take the written test and proceeding with full performance testing.
The committee will need to specify a point after which the individual is permitted to take the certification test. A revoked certification may not be reinstated. All certification maintenance requirements are also immediately revoked, however the interpreter or transliterator will not be entitled to any refund or prorated return of fees or dues for the year in which the complaint is heard, and all CEHs earned up to the point of the announcement of action will be moot.
Note: An interpreter or transliterator whose certification has been suspended shall not under any circumstances be granted an emergency temporary permit.
A mentored permit may be granted if the respondent agrees to the mentor being informed of the complaint and subsequent proceedings to the extent that the mentor can then agree to provide targeted mentoring and sufficient supervision. An interpreter or transliterator whose certification has been revoked shall not be granted any form of temporary permit.
Revocation of an interpreter/transliterator="s" certification is an extreme measure and should be reserved only for situations consisting of the most intentional and severe malpractice.
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