NCJ Number
168849
Date Published
Unknown
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Deafness cuts across every level of society, age group, race, occupation, and educational level and can cause speech problems that complicate communication; in the criminal justice setting, police officers may encounter deaf persons who are victims of criminal attack, witnesses or suspects in criminal cases, injured in accidents, or involved in traffic incidents.
Abstract
Police officers need to be aware of appropriate strategies for dealing with deaf citizens. They should realize that deaf people can be violent and that deaf people's only means of communication are their hands, except for oral deaf people who have learned to communicate through speech. Many lawsuits by deaf people against police departments could have been avoided even with minimal knowledge of deaf culture and language. Communication is a major factor in the first contact police officers have in situations involving a deaf person. An interpreter may be needed in both police and court settings. The interpreter should know the age of the deaf suspect, whether the suspect has been communicated with in writing, whether the suspect is a member of a deaf organization, and the suspect's general attitude. Deaf and hearing-impaired people have certain rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), and the ADA requires State and local law enforcement agencies to provide qualified sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids to ensure effective communication with deaf and hearing-impaired individuals. Because it is not feasible for all police officers to learn sign language, one or two police officers should be trained in deaf culture, language, and behavior and in legal aspects of working with deaf suspects and victims. Appendixes contain additional information on the special problems of deaf people and their interaction with police officers. 6 references