VANCOUVER, Wash. – The US Department of Justice and Clark County Jail in Vancouver, WA have reached an agreement after the jail allegedly violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The investigation and settlement resulted from the complaint from a Clark County woman who is deaf and was denied hearing aids or services while incarcerated at the jail for two days.
Instead of utilizing interpreters or ADA compliant devices such as hearing aids, jail booking staff attempted to communicate using written notes, gestures, and typing on a computer screen.
The investigation also determined jail staff are not trained to assess an inmate’s communication needs, despite several lawsuits since 2014 alleging discrimination against detainees with hearing impairments.
The settlement calls for significant updates to the policies and procedures at Clark County Jail, including an modified handcuffing policy that allows for communication through Sign Language.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor Clark County Jail’s compliance with this settlement for the next three years.