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MPD Utilizing New Technology to Assist with Language Interpretation

Marshalltown Police Department uses ILA
November 17, 2023

The Marshalltown Police Department is currently experimenting with a new device that will aid our staff in improving our overall communication with those who speak a variety of different languages. The department has purchased an Instant Language Assistant (ILA) to help police department staff better communicate with members of our community. ILA is a fully portable electronic tablet system that can translate over 120 different languages, many times providing both voice feedback and readable text. This device will be used by staff to communicate without the need to contact a paid interrupter when discussing basic information. Our agency will continue to utilize in-person interpretation and/or Language Line Solutions to assist when needed.

The ILA Pro. Discover our list of over 200 languages or connect with live interpreters speaking in over 400 languages

ILA services a multitude of different languages and dialects for languages spoken throughout the world. The device also has video and audio features for those who are vision and hearing-impaired. Additional languages are often added as updates to the system become available. The device is an easy-to-use push-to-talk electronic device that translates communication into English and then back from English into a specified spoken language selected by the recipient. The translation is done seamlessly during a one-to-one conversation.