On October 3, 2018, the ACLU and the ACLU of Georgia, together with National Association of the Deaf and Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people incarcerated in prisons supervised by the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). The complaint highlights GDC’s failure to provide incarcerated deaf and hard of hearing people with equally effective communication access to programs, services, and activities, including medical care, telecommunications, and prison programs. Further, due to lack of access to interpreters and other communication accommodations, deaf prisoners are also often unable to explain or defend themselves when GDC takes disciplinary action against them.

The ACLU and ACLU of Georgia, along with the National Association of the Deaf and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing individuals on probation and parole supervised by the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (GDCS). We also sought a preliminary injunction, directing GDCS to immediately provide American Sign Language interpreters, auxiliary aids and services, and reasonable modifications to deaf and hard of hearing individuals on probation or parole.

A deputy sheriff shackled two elementary school children who have disabilities, causing them pain and trauma, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Children’s Law Center, and Dinsmore & Shohl.