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Federal Settlement in Arlington Sends Message to Jails About Services to Deaf Inmates

Leaders in Arlington are settling a federal lawsuit against a jail for failing to offer services to a deaf inmate. As Michael Pope reports, the settlement could have consequences for jails across Virginia -- and the United States.

When a deaf inmate arrived at the Arlington County jail, the sheriff failed to offer a sign language interpreter or any kind of communication device for him to talk to his lawyer.

Now the sheriff is agreeing to pay that inmate $250,000 as part of a settlement agreement.

Leslie Prince is manager of interpreter services at the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She says, “rather than looking at it as sort of a cautionary tale, we would look at it as an opportunity to better educate people who are going to encounter people who are deaf in the community, in health care, in jails, in real estate."

Virginia legal expert Rich Kelsey says the settlement should serve as a warning to other jails across Virginia -- and the United States.  

“I don’t think there’s any evidence of a maliciousness. I think it’s a matter of not getting it right, and if Arlington didn’t get it right I think there are other jails that have not gotten it right."

In addition to the quarter of a million dollars that will be paid to the former inmate, Arlington is also agreeing to offer sign language interpreters and videophones so they will be ready the next time a deaf inmate arrives at the jail.

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