§ 28-33-02 — Interpreter required

1. At all stages of any judicial or administrative proceedings in which a deaf person is a
principal party in interest, the appointing authority shall appoint a qualified interpreter
to interpret or to translate the proceedings to the deaf person and to interpret or
translate the person's testimony.
2. Immediately after a deaf person is arrested for any alleged violation of criminal law and
penalty may include imprisonment or a fine in excess of one hundred dollars, or both,
an interpreter must be appointed. No attempt to interrogate or take a statement from
such person may be permitted until a qualified interpreter is appointed for the deaf
person and then only through the use of the interpreter.
3. Whenever any deaf person is a party to any proceedings involving, or is receiving any
services from, any agency under the authority of the state or any political subdivision,
the agency shall inform the deaf person of that person's right to a qualified interpreter
to interpret or translate the action of any personnel providing such service and to
assist the deaf person in communicating with each other person. The interpreter must
be appointed, at the expense of the agency, upon the request of the deaf person or the
deaf person's parent or guardian, if the deaf person is a minor.