Opinion ID: 3179275
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Lack of Translation Services

Text: The district court found a structural defect in the PTA process based on one inmate’s claim that, after his petition with some Spanish language documents had passed an initial review, full review was denied until the documents were translated. However, the district court noted evidence that prisoners who need translation services are given such assistance with their PTAs. Rather than making a finding that class members were denied translation services, the district court found no facts to sustain its determination that translation services are unavailable. Instead, the district court ruled: “If in fact, no translation services are provided at the PTA stage, then the PTA process is illusory for those prisoners who communicate only in Spanish.” (Emphasis added.) Quite obviously, unless a fact is found to exist, the supposition that it might exist is not a basis for decision.