LAWSUIT: Clark County Jail Fails to Provide Adequate Accommodations for Deaf People in Detention

LAS VEGAS - The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit with the aim of forcing the Clark County Detention Center to comply with its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the U.S. Constitution, and the Nevada Constitution.

ACLUNV attorneys have been investigating the treatment of deaf people detained at CCDC since April 2021 and have determined the jail regularly denies basic aids and services to deaf people detained at the facility, including sign language interpreters, videophones, and visual aids. These services have been denied even for the most important communications, such as rehabilitation classes, medical appointments, religious services, and even fire alarms.

The case is Jones v. LVMPD, Case No. 2:24-cv-00090. The ACLU of Nevada is working on the case with the National Association of the Deaf and Dickinson Wright.

ACLU of Nevada Legal Director Chris Peterson said:

“Deaf and hard of hearing people are experiencing worse jail conditions than everyone else at the detention center only because they are deaf or hard of hearing. Based on the records we have received through public records requests, we know that the detention center is aware it must offer these services, but it still fails to do so. Our client’s requests for basic services were denied repeatedly, and we are filing this case to make sure no one who is deaf or hard of hearing in Nevada jails will be treated that way again.”

Christopher Jones spent more than two years at CCDC, and because his requests for services were denied, he was unable to participate in group therapy, religious services, or other opportunities to rehabilitate.

The ACLU of Nevada is seeking to force the Clark County Detention Center to provide better training for staff as well as videophones, American Sign Language interpreters, and any other aids or services a deaf person might require.