Pre-recorded traffic arraignment speeches that explain constitutional rights and other procedural information in court will now be offered in eight languages, the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara announced Friday.

The Santa Clara Superior Court said the new audio was part of the ongoing effort to promote equity and enhance language access within the judicial system and ensure a clear understanding of the judicial process for all residents.

The pre-recorded speeches will be offered in English, Mandarin, Tagalog, Korean, Farsi, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Information provided to residents will include constitutional rights, trial and sentencing, correctable sentences, and fines and fees. 

“Our goal is to make the judicial process accessible and understandable for everyone in our community,” said Hon. Beth McGowen, Presiding Judge in a press release. “By providing traffic arraignment information in multiple languages, we are taking a significant step towards promoting equity and inclusivity in our court system.”

The pre-recorded traffic arraignment speeches are available on the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara’s official website and YouTube channel. 

Residents were encouraged to utilize the resources to better understand the judicial process and their rights within the traffic court system.

Victoria Franco is a Stockton-based reporter covering the diverse news around the Central Valley as part of the Report for America program. As a Stockton native, Franco is proud to cover stories within her community and report a variety of coverage. She is a San Jose State University alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. In her collegiate years she was Managing Editor for the Spartan Daily. From her time at the Spartan Daily she helped lead her staff to California College Media Awards and a General Excellence first place. Victoria encourages readers to email her story tips and ideas at victoria.franco@baycitynews.com.