Hancock Circuit Court: Where Justice is Served in 84+ Languages

In the heart of Hancock County, Illinois is a community of 17,000 people that has evolved from a rural, agricultural hub into a diverse populace. With demographic shifts bringing new challenges to local institutions, including Hancock Circuit Court, the county decided to embrace these cultural changes head on to create a more inclusive and welcoming community.

A Snapshot of Hancock Circuit Court

Hancock Circuit Court operates with a tight-knit workforce, including Keara Weber, Hancock County’s Circuit Clerk, who oversees four deputy clerks and the operations of the court. The court is responsible for maintaining records, filing documents, scheduling, and assisting self-represented individuals. They handle various cases across two courtrooms, one operating five days per week and the other three days per week. The busiest areas include traffic and criminal cases with up to 30 individuals scheduled daily.

While most visitors and staff primarily speak English, there’s a growing need to accommodate Spanish speakers and, occasionally, Mandarin speakers. This reflects the broader demographic trends in Hancock County, where a significant Latino population has grown alongside the area’s agricultural and industrial shifts over the past 25 years.

The Challenge

With the community’s linguistic diversity increasing, the court faced practical communication challenges. With instances where non-native-English-speaking individuals needed legal guidance or assistance, and the tools at hand weren’t just insufficient, but harmful.

“In the past, we’d have to pass my phone back and forth to use translation apps, which wasn’t efficient or accurate,” explained Weber. “It made already complex situations even more difficult.”

The Pocketalk Solution

Inspired by a news story about translation devices and a recommendation from Wright County, Illinois, the Circuit Clerk explored Pocketalk as a potential solution. The court bought 13 Pocketalks for judges, public defenders, and their office staff. The real game changer? Ventana, Pocketalk’s centralized administrative panel, which allows for complete control over a fleet of Pocketalk devices and provides official transcripts, a critical part of the court’s record-keeping protocol.

This suite of translation technology allows real-time translation, providing fast, secure, and easy ways to provide immediate action for critical conversations. From judges to attorneys and clerks, everyone has embraced the technology:

• Courtroom Proceedings: Judges, prosecution, defendants, and witnesses use Pocketalk to ensure accurate communication.
• Clerk’s Office Assistance: Staff use the devices to help non-native English speakers navigate processes, pay fines, and file paperwork.

“It’s a game-changer,” said Weber. “Conversations that I wouldn’t have been able to help with in the past have turned into quick solves and smiles.” 

To ensure the devices could support their translation needs, their team put the Pocketalk and Ventana to the test with a mock trial.

Results and Impact

The mock trial demonstrated the technology’s accuracy and reliability, with judges and attorneys praising Ventana as the standout star to provide transcripts—something traditional interpreters and language lines cannot offer.

“We were excited to see the ways in which Pocketalk would help us, but we were blown away by the impact that Ventana had on our record keeping,” Weber exclaimed. “In the past we wouldn’t have had transcripts as an option. With Ventana, we can print it out and put it in the case, no questions asked. That wasn’t an option before.”

The introduction of Pocketalk transformed the court’s ability to serve its diverse community, but also support their administrative staff through Ventana. Staff report overwhelmingly positive reactions and have enhanced community relations by allowing staff to provide better guidance and support.

The Bigger Picture

Pocketalk’s success at Hancock Circuit Court underscores the importance of overcoming language barriers in critical conversations in the justice system.

“The diversity of our community is growing, and it’s our responsibility to adapt,” Weber emphasized. “We’re seeing language needs in courtrooms, township meetings, and even law enforcement. Pocketalk is helping us keep up.”

By breaking down language barriers, Hancock Circuit Court is setting an example for how small, rural communities can embrace innovation to better serve their residents and welcome more community members to the conversation.

Looking Ahead

For now, Hancock Circuit Court has the tools it needs in its devices and Ventana, but its leadership remains open to expanding its Pocketalk program as community needs evolve, and is committed to continuing to share the impact of Pocketalk with other Illinois circuit courts. By leveraging technology and fostering inclusivity, the court continues to uphold its mission of justice for all—regardless of the language they speak.

Let’s Get Social!

Check out our X, LinkedIn, and Instagram for more behind-the-scenes content, and share your thoughts using #Pocketalk and #AllSpokenHere for your language inclusivity stories. Let’s explore how we can transform language barriers into bridges for emergency service professionals.