Authored by national experts in the field with the contributions of more than 20 victim service providers in Washington, DC, this ground-breaking manual prepares qualified interpreters to interpret for victims of violent crime. Intended for both spoken and sign language interpreters, the manual includes a special focus on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. It is the first published manual for trauma-informed interpreting. It also supports a four-day training program, continuing education modules or independent study.

Designed for flexible use, each module corresponds to a half-day workshop. The manual can be used with its companion workbook, Breaking Silence: Interpreting for Victim Services—A Workbook of Role Plays and Exercises. These two publications support the delivery of short programs, in-service sessions, conference presentations or workshops based on the theme of each module. Medical, mental health, legal and social services interpreting challenges are discussed. Interpreting for law enforcement, emergency services and disaster response is also addressed.

Developed by Cross-Cultural Communications for Ayuda, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable immigrants who seek to better their lives, this publication was made possible through funding from the District of Columbia Office of Victim Services & Justice Grants. It can be downloaded at no cost from Ayuda and our Resources for Interpreters section.