Minneapolis, MN – A legal settlement announced recently will usher in a significant change for inmates with hearing impairments at Minnesota prisons, ensuring they receive the same critical information as their hearing counterparts starting July 1. This development addresses longstanding issues of accessibility and rights within the prison system.
The settlement, reached between Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Minnesota Disability Law Center and the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC), aims to enhance the living conditions of deaf and hard-of-hearing inmates by ensuring they receive announcements currently broadcast over facility public address systems. These announcements, which include essential daily information such as meal times, lockdown schedules, and medication distribution, are crucial for inmate safety and daily activities.
The legal action was initiated on behalf of two inmates at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, one deaf and the other hard of hearing, who faced significant challenges due to their inability to hear these announcements. One of the inmates, Jamie Richardson, who has been incarcerated at Stillwater since 2002 under a life sentence, experienced continued denial of necessary adjustments to accommodate his hearing impairment. Despite being provided some forms of assistance, Richardson lacked access to routine announcements, telephone services, and opportunities to learn American Signularity Language (ASL), making daily life and safety a constant challenge.
Attorney Sonja Dunnwald Peterson, representing the plaintiffs, argued that depriving these inmates of access to basic communication not only hindered their ability to function within the prison but also posed serious risks during emergency lockdowns and other critical situations. Failing to hear an order to return to one’s cell during such times could result in disciplinary action or even personal danger.
The situation was further exacerbated when accommodations provided were often unreliable or poorly maintained. For example, although pagers were introduced to facilitate communication with hearing-impaired inmates, it was later discovered that these devices were frequently not used by the staff. Additionally, the available TTY devices and videophones, intended to aid in communication, were scarce and prone to malfunctions.
In addressing these grievances, the new settlement not only calls for immediate paging for deaf inmates following announcements but also mandates comprehensive staff training and strict adherence to new communication protocols. Moreover, the DOC is also required to establish better maintenance for assistive communication devices and enforce a policy overhaul that ensures all such equipment remains in operable condition, as per ADA guidelines.
These changes come after persistent advocacy by legal representatives and several mediation sessions, which highlighted the slow pace of reform within the correctional system. The legal representatives expressed frustration over the delayed response to these critical issues, citing bureaucratic hurdles that often slowed the implementation of necessary reforms.
As part of the settlement, the DOC has agreed to compensate the legal fees accrued during the litigation, amounting to $66,000. This payment acknowledges the efforts and resources expended by Legal Aid to protect and ensure the rights of inmates with disabilities.
This settlement marks a significant step towards achieving parity in communication for all inmates, regardless of their abilities. It underscores the importance of adhering to human rights standards and the need for continuous oversight to prevent discrimination against disabled individuals within state facilities.