no interpreters in jail

[zookeeper4321]

There are only 2 staff members at Mr. Zookeepers facility that sign and they are not remotely fluent. Mr. Zookeeper only knows about 1000 words and he's the best they've got. I'm told they are under no obligation to provide interpreters. If someone needs an interpreter they get another Deaf inmate. I find this totally unacceptable. Thoughts?

 

[GalaxyAngel]

ask for ADA..

Good luck..

I have no knowledge about usa..
I've seen Deaf America who knew about ADA law

 

[Interpretrator]

I'm told they are under no obligation to provide interpreters. If someone needs an interpreter they get another Deaf inmate. I find this totally unacceptable. Thoughts?

Are they a privately funded organization with under 10 (I think...don't quote me) employees? Then true, they are under no obligation.

Given that you're talking about a prison, that seems highly unlikely!

GalaxyAngel has it right, this is an ADA issue. If no one at the facility will pay attention, contact a lawyer if you have the money. I think the ACLU handles these kinds of matters...? Anyone?

 

[Nesmuth]

Since when do jails become privately funded? And likely theyre not and theyre subject to ADA and get a Dr. Rosen type of lawyer to pick on them for you.

Richard

 

[MorriganTait]

If your prison is in violation of this part of the ADA, it's possible they are in violation of a lot of other ADA regs. If you hire a lawyer, have him look at other aspects too, such as access to medical treatment, restricted/special diets, etc. These are some areas where prisons regularly fail to meet ADA compliance. The ADA is designed to create the least restrictive environment while jails are designed to be most restrictive. It seems little surprise that they would have trouble doing both at the same time.

 

[javapride]

They won't provide interpeters for 2 reasons, danger situation when a fight breaks out or anyone is escaping, but most recently one prison got sued in a huge way for not providing interpeters and since then they have had interpeters for parole board hearings and classification hearings. but nothing else, they end up writing back and forth and using alot of gestures to communicate with deaf inmates. I agree there should be interpeters in there for any settings, from reciving to schooling/work for training purposes to release and or meetings such as AA meetings, NA meetings and parenting classes prior to release.

 

[MorriganTait]

It's a common misconception about AA meetings and other self-help groups like that which may meet in jails or prisons: They are NOT in any way an official function of the jail, prison or institution where they are held. They are held by members of AA (or NA, or whatever-A) and brought into the prison from the outside as a courtesy outreach, and the administration of such meetings is not the prison's responsibility. The AA groups are supported only by their own voluntary contributions. AA meetings typically function with very little or no funds, especially those operating inside a prison, so hiring an interpreter is extraoridinarily cost prohibitive. A terp is likely at least $45.00 an hour and an AA meeting may not take in that much in two weeks or a month.

That said, those programs of the prison that are official ought adhere to all reasonable ADA accomodations. I am sure some allowances exist - like maybe they don't have a 24/7 terp for a prison with only a few deaf people, but when it counts, especially in a court setting, they need to have terps. They have to do the same for primarily Spanish speaking prisoners - I see this as about the same for deaf inmates.

 

[zookeeper4321]

They have to do the same for primarily Spanish speaking prisoners - I see this as about the same for deaf inmates.

They get spanish speaking inmates to interpret for spanish inmates too.

I don't know if it's a violation in everyday situations. I just think it's sad. I think it would be impossible to provide an interpreter every time an inmate with a foreign language wanted to say something to a guard. But what about when they want to talk to a counselor. They do have a TTY in the chaplains office. I don't know what the answer is, but I wanted to kick it around.

This is a private company that is contracted to run the facility. However, it's a huge company.

By the way Mr. Zookeeper learned to sign F*** you and you s**** the other day when a Deaf inmate cussed him out. We won't be learning that on little G's videos.

 

[Beowulf]

It's a common misconception about AA meetings and other self-help groups like that which may meet in jails or prisons: They are NOT in any way an official function of the jail, prison or institution where they are held. They are held by members of AA (or NA, or whatever-A) and brought into the prison from the outside as a courtesy outreach, and the administration of such meetings is not the prison's responsibility. The AA groups are supported only by their own voluntary contributions. AA meetings typically function with very little or no funds, especially those operating inside a prison, so hiring an interpreter is extraoridinarily cost prohibitive. A terp is likely at least $45.00 an hour and an AA meeting may not take in that much in two weeks or a month.

That said, those programs of the prison that are official ought adhere to all reasonable ADA accomodations. I am sure some allowances exist - like maybe they don't have a 24/7 terp for a prison with only a few deaf people, but when it counts, especially in a court setting, they need to have terps. They have to do the same for primarily Spanish speaking prisoners - I see this as about the same for deaf inmates.

But let's get real here. When you're in jail/prison, you lose your rights. You are a crook. Why should they pamper you?
I speak from personal experience, sighhhhh.....

 

[MorriganTait]

But let's get real here. When you're in jail/prison, you lose your rights. You are a crook. Why should they pamper you?
I speak from personal experience, sighhhhh.....

I don't think anyone should be pampered, per se, in jail, but we are a civilized country, and dehumanizing prisoners only worsens the crime problem. No prisoner should be denied the right to adequate legal representation, medical care, etc. simply because he/she is deaf. This goes against the values on which this country was founded.

 

[Reba]

Interesting link:

http://www.ferleger.com/adapri.html#does

DUFFY v. RIVELAND, 98 F.3d 447 (9th Cir. 1996) Deaf inmate who denied interpreter at prison disciplinary and classification proceedings sued under ADA with other claims. HELD: summary judgment for prison officials REVERSED because fact issues on interpreter qualifications and inmate ability to communicate with interpreter. Court implies that ADA claim can proceed in prison context. Court HELD: Prison disciplinary and classification hearings were "programs" within meaning of ADA.

NIECE v. FITZNER, 922 F.Supp. 1208 (E.D. Mich. 1996) Prisoner and prisoner's deaf fiance brought civil rights suit under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act, and state law. HELD: prison's provision of telephone access to prisoners was "service" within meaning of ADA; compensatory damages were available under ADA.

CLARKSON v. COUGHLIN, 898 F.Supp. 1019 (S.D. N.Y. 1995) Deaf and hearing-impaired inmates sued state prison officials, alleging
denial of accommodation of hearing impairments as violation of ADA and other rights. HELD: ADA violated by a) denial of information regarding the Act and location of accessible services, b) prison failure to provide disabled inmates with opportunity to request auxiliary aids and services of their choice, c) failure to resond to inmate requests for accommodations, d) failure of prison to do self-evaluation re inmate housing under ADA, e) failure to establish effective grievance procedure for deaf and hearing impaired inmates regarding accommodations, f) failure to
provide interpreters for reception/classification, g) failure to provide access to telephone devices, close caption for TV, fire alarms, h) exclusion from programs.

 

[Beowulf]

And by whom was this country founded? By outcasts and crooks, that's who.
Practically the first thing our beloved Pilgrims did was poison the Indians at the fabled dinner.
sighhh
Tell you what, I'll go sit on the porch a while.
hee hee

 

[Reba]

http://www.captions.com/legal.html

According to this site, under the ADA, an interpreter will be made available:

"At civil proceedings such as juvenile hearings, parole and probation hearings, prison disciplinary proceedings, and passport reviews"

 

[MorriganTait]

And by whom was this country founded? By outcasts and crooks, that's who. Practically the first thing our beloved Pilgrims did was poison the Indians at the fabled dinner. sighhh Tell you what, I'll go sit on the porch a while. hee hee

Not suggesting all European settlers of all times were perfectly wonderful human beings, but I like to think of our Declaration of Independance, Constitution, and Bill of Rights as representative of the founding ideals of our country, and mistreatment of inmates would go against these ideals, in my mind.

 

[Reba]

Check out these links:

http://searchjustice.usdoj.gov/sear...heet=default_frontend&site=default_collection

 

[Beowulf]

http://www.captions.com/legal.html

According to this site, under the ADA, an interpreter will be made available:

"At civil proceedings such as juvenile hearings, parole and probation hearings, prison disciplinary proceedings, and passport reviews"

Yeah, Reba, but there's a lot of time between those.

 

[Beowulf]

Not suggesting all European settlers of all times were perfectly wonderful human beings, but I like to think of our Declaration of Independance, Constitution, and Bill of Rights as representative of the founding ideals of our country, and mistreatment of inmates would go against these ideals, in my mind.

I tend to agree. But it seems that rules are being written as we speak. I mean, torture is officially sanctioned. Whither now, America?

 

[Reba]

Yeah, Reba, but there's a lot of time between those.

I know, but I have a feeling that, under the ADA, the terps are only provided during legal proceedings or meetings in prison, not for daily activities. Any other services would probably have to be either pro bono, or paid for by a sympathetic organization or charitable group. Even then, they might not always get access.

 

[MorriganTait]

I tend to agree. But it seems that rules are being written as we speak. I mean, torture is officially sanctioned. Whither now, America?

Yes - so it's time for good Americans to stand up and say "No More!"

 

[AnnyGuy]

But let's get real here. When you're in jail/prison, you lose your rights. You are a crook. Why should they pamper you?
I speak from personal experience, sighhhhh.....

Oh? Well...let's see, hearing people can use phone to make calls, can hear volume on television, etc. So are you denying deaf people that they shouldn't have TTY to make phone calls, no closed caption to read to understand what's on television, and things like that? since they are crooks? Come on.