The Ohtani Effect, Trust in Language Services is Essential

SAN DIEGO - March 27, 2025 - PRLog -- The world of professional sports was recently rocked by the sentencing of Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara was convicted of embezzling approximately $17 million from Ohtani to cover his gambling debts, and with crimes including bank and tax fraud, he was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, along with three years of supervised release. After pleading guilty, Mizuhara was due to begin his prison sentence on Monday, March 24^th, however his surrender date was postponed to an unspecified date in the future.

For companies like Interpreters Unlimited (IU), this scandal is not just a cautionary tale, but it's a moment to emphasize the importance of integrity in the language services industry. Language professionals are often entrusted with sensitive information, high-stakes communication, and privileged access to the lives of their clients. At IU, ensuring that this trust is never misplaced is the foundation of their mission. They take rigorous steps to ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of the linguists that they contract with.

The IU vetting process for qualification in becoming an independently contracted linguist is extensive and stringent, with thorough background checks including relevant memberships and affiliations, prior experience, employment history, criminal background checks and all relevant interpreting certifications. Each candidate's professional industry ethics and adherence to industry standards is evaluated to find linguists who uphold the highest standards of professionalism, collaboration, and cultural competence.

Technical qualifications, testing, interviews, references and sample work are all a part of the process before a linguist is engaged in any capacity. Linguists also undergo training on the company's Code of Ethics, emphasizing professionalism, neutrality, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity. IU maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful behavior or misconduct.

Whether working in legal settings, hospitals, schools, government agencies, or sports and entertainment, IU translators are prepared to navigate complex situations with integrity and precision. In addition, IU invests heavily in technology and protocols to protect its clients from potential breaches of security, including encrypted communication platforms and strict adherence to HIPAA compliance standards.

What sets Interpreters Unlimited apart is its unwavering belief that linguists are not just service providers, they are stewards of trust. Unlike the Mizuhara scandal, where a lack of oversight allowed unethical behavior to spiral out of control, IU's commitment to diligence ensures that clients can depend on their translators, even in the most high-pressure or sensitive situations. For organizations like Interpreters Unlimited, it reinforces why every translator placed with a client must meet the highest standards, not only in skill but in character, setting the standard for integrity and professionalism.

For more information about Interpreters Unlimited, please visit https://www.interpreters.com or call 800-726-9891.