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Sheriff’s Office Fails Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals

DENVER – In a shocking case of neglect, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to adopt new policies to improve communication with individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

The agreement comes after an investigation into complaints by two individuals who are deaf, who each claimed that JCSO deputies had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not providing them with aids and services they needed to effectively communicate in connection with their arrests and bookings.

According to the investigation, some existing policies were not always followed, and other policies needed improvement. The new policies require JCSO employees to assess whether individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing need auxiliary aids and services and provide them if needed.

JCSO employees will also be required to notify a supervisor any time they encounter an individual who is deaf or hard-of-hearing, and if that person is en route to the jail, JCSO patrol deputies will notify dispatch staff, who in turn will notify booking staff.

The new policies also require JCSO employees working at the jail to ensure that detainees who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are able to access technology that enables them to communicate with family, friends, and their attorneys.

JCSO employees in patrol, booking, and jail operations will receive job-specific training on effective communication policies and operations involving individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

“When law enforcement interacts with individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, effective communication requires the use of appropriate aids and services,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch. “We are pleased that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to take steps not only to improve their policies on interacting with individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, but also to ensure that JCSO employees know how to put those policies into action.”

This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeyen Wu.

View the Settlement Agreement