West Virginia Code § 5-14A-4

Arrests -- Appointment of an interpreter
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(a) In the event a person who is deaf is arrested and taken into custody for any alleged
violation of a criminal law of this state, the arresting officer or his or her superiors shall
procure a qualified interpreter in order to interrogate properly such deaf person and to
interpret such person's statements. No statement taken from the deaf person before an
interpreter is present may be admissible in court. e
(b) An oral interpreter shall be provided upon the request of a deaf person entitled to an
interpreter under this article, but who does not communicate in sign language. The right of a
deaf person to an interpreter may not be waived except by a deauf person who does not use
sign language and who initiates the request for waiver in writing. The waiver is subject to
approval of legal counsel for the deaf person, if any, and is stubject to approval of the
appointing authority.

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