Why Do Deaf People Need A Lack Of Communication In Prison

Historically, members of the Deaf community have been incarcerated for as long as

prisons have existed. Deaf people serving prison terms are frequently denied basic due process

rights and access to rehabilitation programs and prison services because prison administrators

fail to understand their communication needs. However, deaf and hard of hearing inmates have

constitutional and statutory rights of access in correctional facilities. For example, if a hearing

individual is able to make a telephone call, then an individual who is deaf has an equal right to

make a telephone call. If the individual needs a TTY or other telecommunications device in

order to place the telephone call, then the jail or prison must make such a device
Additionally, he alleged that the bureau didn’t provide interpreters, which are

necessary for proceedings ranging from orientation and disciplinary proceedings to religious or

educational programs. He also expressed that concern that he wouldn't be able to communicate

with medical personnel. A lack of communication techniques for Deaf inmates can be

detrimental. Even basic legal terms and concepts are likely to be beyond comprehension for the

many deaf people possessed of minimal English skills. Sometimes the lack of communication

can be even more basic: In at least one instance a [California] court issued a bench warrant for a

deaf person who was present in the court room, but did not know his case had been called. The

real-life experiences and treatment of Deaf persons that have served prison time vary greatly

from the recommendations of hearing professionals.

Naturally, treatment of Deaf prisoners and the resources (or lack thereof) provided
HEARD also states that those who are

deaf in prison make up a group that is marginalized, mistreated, and excluded within an already

tragically mistreated and excluded group of incarcerated people. To address these issues,

Congress has enacted numerous laws specifically designed to assure disabled individuals access

to the programs, activities, services, public facilities and other resources available to the general

population, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The tragedy is that federal, state and local officials, including

law enforcement, blatantly ignore and fail to enforce these laws effectively, especially in three

major areas: one of which is prisons. In one case related to the unfair treatment of Deaf inmates,

the Supreme Court found that the state prison system violated ADA by failing to notify deaf

prisoners about accommodations available under ADA as well as failing to give deaf prisoners

the opportunity to access TDDs (deaf telephones) and visual alarms. They also failed to provide

interpreter services for educational and vocational classes, alcohol and drug counseling,