Special Collection: Deaf or Blind in Jail/Prison

Prisoners in blue sit around tables working; one has a "hearing/mobility impaired" vest

Prisoners in a creative writing class.

photo by Peter Merts, courtesy of Arts in Corrections

This collection gathers cases addressing the needs of incarcerated people who are deaf/hard-of-hearing or blind/low vision. It accompanies a Clearinghouse white paper that uses these cases to compile suggested practices for jail/prison facilities.

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71 Cases
JAIL CONDITIONS
Chester County Prison ADA Investigation

DJ 204-62-70 | No Court

Prison disability access case in Chester County settled with improved accommodations.
DISABILITY RIGHTS
CODING IN PROCESS
DOJ Investigation of Scott County Sheriff's Office

No Court

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) This entry relates to an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division after it received a com…

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JAIL CONDITIONS
Lackawanna County ADA Investigation

No Court Case | No Court

ADA lawsuit over deaf access at Lackawanna County jail settled with equipment requirements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Wood County ADA Investigation

NA | No Court

ADA compliance settlement between DOJ and Wood County Sheriff's Department requiring disability accommodations in jail.
PRISON CONDITIONS
DOJ ADA investigation of Huron Valley Women's Prison

NA | No Court

DOJ investigation of Michigan women's prison leads to disability and medical care improvements.
PRISON CONDITIONS
DOJ ADA Investigation of Utah Department of Corrections

No Court

Utah prison disability discrimination case settled with accessibility reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
DOJ ADA Investigation of Vermont Department of Corrections

No Court

Prison disability access case in Vermont settled with facility improvements.
PRISON CONDITIONS
U.S. v. South Carolina Department of Corrections

Never filed | No Court

Filed Date: 2018

Case Ongoing

Prison disability discrimination settlement requiring South Carolina to provide hearing accommodations to inmates.
DISABILITY RIGHTS
DOJ Investigation of Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry

204-8-265 | No Court

DOJ investigation of Arizona prison system's treatment of visually impaired inmates leads to settlement agreement.
DISABILITY RIGHTS
United States and Yakima County Agreement

Not filed | No Court

ADA lawsuit against Yakima County, Washington, settled with accessibility improvements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
DOJ ADA Investigation of Virginia Regional Jail Authority

No Court

DOJ investigation of Virginia jail's disability accommodations leads to settlement requiring ADA compliance measures.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Livingston v. Beeman

13-0867 | Texas state trial court

Filed Date: 2010

Class action by deaf Texas inmates seeking videophone services and sign language interpreters denied on appeal.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Mackes v. Colorado Department of Corrections

1:21-cv-01100 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: April 21, 2021

Case Ongoing

This lawsuit was filed on April 21, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado by two blind men in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) as well as the Nation…

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PRISON CONDITIONS
Center for Legal Advocacy v. Colorado Department of Corrections

1:21-cv-00792 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: March 18, 2021

Case Ongoing

Disability rights lawsuit against Colorado prisons over deaf and hard of hearing accommodations settled with reforms.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Ray v. Madison Co.

1:20-cv-02973 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Filed Date: Nov. 13, 2020

Closed Date: June 23, 2021

Disability discrimination case against Madison County jail over deaf communication access settled.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Montoya v. Colorado Department of Corrections

1:20-cv-03345 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Nov. 9, 2020

Closed Date: Dec. 8, 2022

Blind prisoner's ADA lawsuit against Colorado Department of Corrections over disability accommodations.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Rowe v. IMPD

1:20-cv-01373 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Filed Date: May 13, 2020

Closed Date: June 23, 2021

Deaf individual's lawsuit against Indianapolis police and jail over failure to provide ASL interpretation settled.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Trivette v. Tennessee Department of Correction

3:20-cv-00276 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Filed Date: March 31, 2020

Case Ongoing

Disability rights lawsuit challenging Tennessee prisons' accommodation policies for deaf people
JAIL CONDITIONS
Dunsmore v. State of California

3:20-cv-00406 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Filed Date: March 2, 2020

Case Ongoing

Detainees at the San Diego County Jail filed a class action lawsuit, alleging denial of proper health accommodations.
DISABILITY RIGHTS
Rinkel v. D.O.C.

62-cv-19-1165 | Minnesota state trial court

Filed Date: Feb. 21, 2019

Closed Date: Dec. 10, 2020

Disability discrimination lawsuit against Minnesota prisons over deaf access resolved through settlement.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Rabinkov v. Colorado Department of Corrections

1:18-cv-02926 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Nov. 14, 2018

Closed Date: May 3, 2022

Colorado prison class action over deaf inmates' communication access settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Yeh v. United States Bureau of Prisons

3:18-cv-00943 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: May 3, 2018

Closed Date: June 16, 2020

ADA lawsuit over deaf prisoner's access to videophones in Pennsylvania federal prison settled after installation.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Murray v. Santa Barbara

2:17-cv-08805 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: Dec. 6, 2017

Case Ongoing

Santa Barbara County Jail conditions lawsuit settled with facility improvements.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Sabata v. Nebraska Department of Correctional Services

4:17-cv-03107 | U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska

Filed Date: Aug. 15, 2017

Closed Date: Dec. 1, 2020

Nebraska prison conditions lawsuit dismissed after COVID-19 and other claims.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Rogers v. Colorado Department of Corrections

1:16-cv-02733 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Nov. 3, 2016

Case Ongoing

On November 3, 2016, a woman incarcerated in the custody of the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility filed this pro se lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The plaintiff s…

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PRISON CONDITIONS
Levy v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

3:16-cv-00542 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Aug. 16, 2016

Case Ongoing

Louisiana disability rights lawsuit over deaf probationers' services settled.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Coen v. Georgia Department of Corrections

5:16-cv-00353 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Filed Date: Aug. 3, 2016

Closed Date: Sept. 18, 2018

Deaf prisoner's lawsuit against Georgia prisons over communication access barriers dismissed without prejudice.
JAIL CONDITIONS
SDNY's ADA Investigation of the NYC Department of Correction

No Court

Filed Date: July 6, 2016

Case Ongoing

NYC jail disability access case settled with facility improvements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Avitia v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

2:16-cv-04818 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: June 30, 2016

Closed Date: May 19, 2017

Lawsuit over lack of deaf services at Santa Ana City Jail settled for damages and jail policy changes.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Martos v. Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

1:16-cv-21501 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Filed Date: April 28, 2016

Closed Date: Oct. 24, 2016

Disability discrimination lawsuit against Miami-Dade jail over lack of sign language interpreters settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Brown v. Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services

1:16-cv-00945 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: March 30, 2016

Closed Date: June 6, 2019

Disability discrimination lawsuit by blind Maryland inmates settled for prison reforms and damages.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Disability Rights Florida v. Jones

4:16-cv-00047 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: Jan. 26, 2016

Case Ongoing

Florida prison disability access lawsuit settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
In re Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services / Wright Petition II

12-00375 | U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Filed Date: Jan. 25, 2016

Case Ongoing

FCC rulemaking and litigation over prison phone call rates to reduce costs for inmates and families.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Briggs v. Mass. Dept. of Corrections

1:15-cv-40162 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Nov. 24, 2015

Case Ongoing

Prison class action over deaf prisoner accommodations in Massachusetts, partially settled but monitoring continues.
PRISON CONDITIONS
McBride v. Michigan Department of Corrections

2:15-cv-11222 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: March 31, 2015

Closed Date: Dec. 12, 2023

Class action by deaf Michigan prisoners over communication access and accommodations settled with required improvements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Zemedagegehu v. Arthur and related DOJ matter

1:15-cv-00057 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Filed Date: Jan. 15, 2015

Closed Date: 2017

ADA lawsuit over deaf inmate services in Arlington County jail settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Hollihan v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

3:15-cv-00005 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: Jan. 2, 2015

Closed Date: March 21, 2020

Pennsylvania prison medical lawsuit over cataract surgery policies settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Braggs v. Dunn

2:14-cv-00601 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Filed Date: June 17, 2014

Case Ongoing

Prison class action over mental health care in Alabama prisons led to reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
VanValkenburg v. Oregon Department of Corrections

3:14-cv-00916 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: June 6, 2014

Closed Date: June 9, 2017

Deaf inmate's disability discrimination lawsuit against Oregon prison system resulted in $400,000 jury verdict.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Hacker v. Cain

3:14-cv-00063 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Jan. 30, 2014

Closed Date: Jan. 10, 2018

Prison medical care lawsuit over cataract treatment resolved by jury verdict.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Adams & Knights v. Kentucky

3:14-cv-00001 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

Filed Date: Jan. 1, 2014

Closed Date: Dec. 24, 2020

Kentucky prison disability lawsuit led to improved accommodations for deaf inmates.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Hernandez v. County of Monterey

5:13-cv-02354 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: March 23, 2013

Case Ongoing

Monterey County jail conditions lawsuit settled for facility improvements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Pierce v. District of Columbia

1:13-cv-00134 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Feb. 1, 2013

Closed Date: Nov. 29, 2016

Disability discrimination lawsuit against DC jail over deaf inmate's lack of accommodations settled after jury verdict.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Berke v. Federal Bureau of Prisons

1:12-cv-01347 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Aug. 14, 2012

Closed Date: May 13, 2013

Deaf prisoner's rights lawsuit seeking accommodations for communication and safety led to facility improvements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Lawrence v. City of Englewood, Colorado

1:12-cv-01423 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: May 31, 2012

Closed Date: March 8, 2016

Disability lawsuit against Englewood police over deaf arrestee's treatment ended in settlement.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Baldridge v. Oregon Department of Corrections

120404976 | Oregon state trial court

Filed Date: April 20, 2012

Closed Date: 2014

Disability discrimination lawsuit by deaf Oregon prisoner settled for policy changes and damages.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Jarboe v. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services

1:12-cv-00572 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Feb. 23, 2012

Closed Date: Dec. 13, 2017

Maryland prison disability lawsuit over deaf inmates' services settled.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Smith v. Reinke

1:12-cv-00030 | U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho

Filed Date: Jan. 23, 2012

Closed Date: Jan. 29, 2015

Prison disability lawsuit over videophone access for deaf inmate settled with technology and training requirements.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Scott v. City and County of Denver

1:12-cv-00053 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Jan. 10, 2012

Closed Date: Jan. 27, 2014

Disability discrimination lawsuit against Denver jail over lack of deaf services settled for monetary damages.
PRISON CONDITIONS
David v. Indiana Department of Correction

1:12-cv-00001 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Filed Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Closed Date: March 5, 2012

Prison disability rights lawsuit over deaf inmate's telephone access restrictions settled in Indiana.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Siaki v. Darr

1:11-cv-03074 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Nov. 23, 2011

Closed Date: Sept. 27, 2014

Disability rights lawsuit against Adams County jail over deaf communication access settled with policy changes.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Rodriguez v. County of El Paso

3:11-cv-00389 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Filed Date: Sept. 21, 2011

Closed Date: July 9, 2012

Deaf detainee's disability discrimination lawsuit against El Paso County jail settled with communication improvements.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Heyer v. United States Bureau of Prisons

5:11-ct-03118 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Filed Date: June 20, 2011

Closed Date: April 26, 2022

Prison lawsuit seeking video communication access for deaf inmates (2011-2024).
PRISON CONDITIONS
Holmes v. Godinez

1:11-cv-02961 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: May 4, 2011

Closed Date: Aug. 18, 2023

Prison disability lawsuit over deaf inmates' accommodations in Illinois settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Bryant v. Federal Bureau of Prisons

2:11-cv-00254 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: Jan. 7, 2011

Deaf prisoner's disability accommodation lawsuit against federal prison system settled after six years of litigation.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Medina v. Fischer

1:11-cv-00176 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Jan. 4, 2011

Closed Date: July 22, 2016

Prison disability lawsuit in New York over accommodations for blind inmates settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Johnson v. Florida Department of Corrections

4:10-cv-00570 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: Dec. 23, 2010

Closed Date: May 30, 2013

Disability discrimination lawsuit by deaf Florida prisoner over TV/radio access settled after three years.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Minnis v. Johnson

1:10-cv-00096 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Filed Date: Jan. 29, 2010

Closed Date: March 30, 2016

Prison disability lawsuit about deaf inmates in Virginia prisons settled with policy reforms and compliance monitoring.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Garcia v. Tucker

4:07-cv-00474 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: Nov. 7, 2007

Closed Date: Aug. 2, 2012

Prison disability discrimination lawsuit over hearing accommodations settled with equipment provision and attorney fees.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Cobbs v. Pramstaller

1:07-cv-14644 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: Oct. 30, 2007

Closed Date: Sept. 21, 2012

Prison medical care lawsuit over delayed cataract surgery dismissed after court granted summary judgment.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Peralez v. Washington State Department of Corrections

3:06-cv-05625 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: Oct. 26, 2006

Closed Date: March 11, 2010

Prison disability discrimination lawsuit over work release access in Washington settled with reforms.
JUVENILE INSTITUTION
USA v. Youth Services International, Inc.

1:06-cv-01760 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: July 11, 2006

Closed Date: July 28, 2006

Disability lawsuit over lack of deaf services in youth detention facilities settled with reforms.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Bernard v. State of Hawaii

1:02-cv-00367 | U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii

Filed Date: June 18, 2002

Closed Date: 2004

Prison class action by deaf inmates in Hawaii over constitutional rights violations settled in 2004.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Padilla v. Ryan

5:98-cv-20309 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: April 7, 1998

Closed Date: Sept. 1, 1999

Santa Clara County jail lawsuit over deaf services resolved with policy changes.
JAIL CONDITIONS
Gordon v. Texas

4:98-cv-00394 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Filed Date: Feb. 11, 1998

Closed Date: Nov. 22, 1999

ADA lawsuit over deaf inmate's access to communication services in Houston jails settled for policy changes and damages.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Armstrong v. Newsom

4:94-cv-02307 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: June 29, 1994

Case Ongoing

California prison disability discrimination lawsuit led to court-ordered ADA improvements.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Duffy v. Riveland

2:92-cv-01596 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: Oct. 13, 1992

Closed Date: 2002

Prison disability rights lawsuit over deaf inmate interpreter access resulted in statewide policy changes in Washington.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Montez v. Owens

1:92-cv-00870 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: May 5, 1992

Closed Date: May 15, 2018

Class action lawsuit over disability accommodations in Colorado prisons led to settlement requiring reforms (1992-2020).
PRISON CONDITIONS
Clarkson v. Coughlin

1:91-cv-01792 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: March 15, 1991

Case Ongoing

New York prison class action over deaf inmates' rights settled with monitoring decree.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Bonner v. Lewis

2:86-cv-01771 | U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Filed Date: Oct. 27, 1986

Closed Date: Sept. 13, 1988

Prison disability rights lawsuit about deaf inmate's access to sign language interpreters in Arizona State Prison.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Pyles v. Kamka

1:79-01864 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Oct. 4, 1979

Closed Date: Feb. 27, 1980

Maryland prison civil rights lawsuit led to consent decree requiring sign language interpreters for deaf inmates.