Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If I think something in a transcript is not accurate what is the process that has to be followed?
A. Where issues arise regarding the accuracy of a transcript which cannot be resolved between the ordering party and the Authorized Court Transcriptionist, Arkley will receive, review and respond to complaints according to a defined Content Review Process. This process is intended to support the integrity of transcript production by enabling an independent review of a complaint when it is requested. Arkley will provide a third party prospective on a substantive accuracy complaint, which may support the resolution of complaints between an ACT and an ordering party.
Content Review Process:
Step 1: Arkley will confirm with the ordering party that the appropriate steps have been taken with the ACT to resolve the issue directly (as explained below).
1) The complainant will be required to identify the specific nature of the alleged error by the ACT.
Step 2: The ACT who certified the transcript will review the specific areas of the transcript that are alleged to have the errors and then inform the ordering party that either:
1) The transcript is accurate
2) The transcript requires correction
If the transcript requires correction:
1) The ACT will contact all parties who received a copy of the transcript and will retrieve all of the copies to be corrected
2) The ACT will make the appropriate corrections
3) The ACT will update the Table of Contents page
4) The ACT will re-certify the transcript and make the following notation under the certification box located on the last page of the transcript: “This transcript replaces a previously certified transcript released on (Date)”
5) The ACT will contact all parties who ordered the transcript and provide a corrected copy
When the Ordering party and the ACT cannot reach an agreement:
The ordering party must provide a complaint in writing to Arkley documenting the nature of the issue and identifying the exact portion of the transcript that requires review.
Step 1: Arkley will review the formal complaint
Step 2: Arkley will notify the ACT in writing, identifying the details of the complaint and request that the ACT review these portions of the transcript and provide a written response within 14 business days.
Step 3: If the ACT provides a response, Arkley will review the response and provide recommendations for next step. Should the response not be sufficient to formulate recommendations or the recommendations are not accepted, Arkley will conduct a Transcript Accuracy Review. A Transcript Accuracy Review involves listening to the identified portions of the recording and documenting what inaccuracies (if any) appear to exist.
Step 4: Arkley will allow the ACT to respond to the identified inaccuracies (if any) over a period of 14 business days.
Step 5: Arkley will make a final determination as to whether any inaccuracies exist and provide the findings to both the ACT and the ordering party in writing.
Once the Content Review Process is complete, the review is considered to be closed. Arkley will retain an internal record of the Content Review services including: The Parties; The Date; Actions Taken and Advice Given. Supporting documentation (If any) will also be kept.
This process does not apply to transcript issues that may arise between ordering parties and the ACTS that are not related to the accuracy of a transcript. Example: Timeframes, formatting.
"Content Review Process." Court Transcript Ontario, 24 July 2017. https://courttranscriptontario.ca/documents/assets/uploads/files/en/contentreviewprocess7242017version4.pdf
Accessed 24 Feb. 2021
Q. In my practice over the years, I have seen many versions of certifications on transcripts, and I’m wondering if you could tell me what the difference between an authorized person, and a person with C.C.R. designation following their name means? Is there a reason for the two distinctions?
A. C.C.R. means, Certified Court Reporter. In order to be a Certified Court Reporter, or to use the C.C.R. designation, a court reporter must first be a member in good standing of the Professional Transcriptionists and Court Reporters Association of Ontario to be eligible for testing. The PT●CRAO provides specialized testing and certification process for eligible members as part of its mandate to ensure that the integrity, quality and consistency of high standards with respect to the profession of court reporting is maintained in all legal proceedings that take place in boardrooms and courtrooms in the Province of Ontario.
The C.C.R. accreditation achieved through PT●CRAO testing is recognized by members of the legal community, stakeholders in the provincial and municipal courts, litigants in private firms, and other governing bodies who employ the services of professional court reporters. The C.C.R. accreditation immediately following a court reporter's name indicates that they have earned their designation as a result of hard work, and have met the challenge of a higher standard of testing than that required at entry level. C.C.R. designation and mandatory PT●CRAO membership offers the advantage of the resources offered by being a member of a professional association with the expertise of the Executive team as well as a variety of services available to them as part of privilege of membership. In addition, their recognized C.C.R. designation gives them a competitive edge in the marketplace.
An Authorized person is the designation assigned exclusively by the provincial and municipal courts to court reporters who are allowed to produce certified transcripts of legal proceedings in those courts following an unspecified period of training and mentoring. Once a court reporter in the provincial and municipal courts is released from mentoring, their name is entered onto a list of authorized persons and court transcripts they produce should bear that assigned designation as policy and legislation directs.
Q. I am interested in a career in the profession of court reporting. Can you help me in my research?
A. PT●CRAO is not a placement or hiring agency, but we can offer some guidance and expertise to assist you in your research in the areas as they relate to our membership base.
Once you decide on the area of court reporting you are interested in, a first requirement would be that you are an eligible candidate for the hiring process. If selected for testing you would have to pass a certain set of entrance level requirements, such as, typing speed, grammar, spelling and punctuation, and that you can demonstrate that you have a basic understanding of the law.
To succeed at the interview stage in your job search, please go to our link section of the PT●CRAO website and get as much information as you can to gain the basic knowledge you will require to be a competitive candidate that stands out from the others. As you’ll see, there is plenty of information on our website that will assist you in researching all levels of the criminal justice system, policies, practices, legal maxims, punctuation, spelling and dictionaries. Please take your time and look around to see what there is right here at your fingertips, to assist you in your job search. Once you’ve done your research, you will need to polish your resume geared to your interests, make sure your skills meet the requirements of the employer, and get ready for the interview stage. Also, explore the opportunities available on college websites across the province to research whether they offer the Court Support Services course which has an introductory component to court reporting within that curriculum. All the details of what is offered in that course would be found on those websites if you are considering taking that direction in your job search. Another option is to Google court reporting firms serving the private sector in your area who will often conduct on the job training for court reporters in their boardrooms.
