Settlement with U.S. Department of Justice Improves Support for Inmates with Disabilities
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has agreed to provide enhanced services for hearing-impaired inmates under a settlement reached with the U.S. Department of Justice. This follows a federal investigation into complaints that inmates at multiple state prisons were not receiving proper accommodations for their hearing impairments.
Federal Investigation into Prison Conditions
The U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation after receiving complaints from inmates at three Wisconsin facilities: Racine Correctional Institution, Taycheedah Correctional Facility, and Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center in Milwaukee. Inmates alleged that officials were not repairing their hearing aids or providing necessary services like sign language interpreters, text telephones, and phones compatible with hearing aids.
The investigation began in 2018 and uncovered widespread issues with how the Wisconsin prison system handled inmates with hearing impairments.
Settlement Terms and New Accommodations
The settlement requires the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to improve support for hearing-impaired inmates by providing necessary aids and services. This includes access to sign language interpreters, video telephones, and hearing aids. Additionally, the Department must make reasonable modifications to its policies, such as allowing inmates to be handcuffed in the front to facilitate signing and extending phone call times for those using interpreters.
Corrections staff will also undergo training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure proper treatment of hearing-impaired inmates. The agency will establish a process to identify these inmates upon their entry into the prison system. As part of the settlement, three inmates will receive $15,000 in compensation for their grievances.
“People with disabilities in Wisconsin deserve equal access, and that does not change when they are incarcerated,” said Gregory J. Haanstad, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, as he announced the settlement.
Corrections Department Response
Wisconsin Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy emphasized the importance of providing adequate accommodations for inmates with disabilities. “Ensuring every individual in our care is able to receive the accommodations they need to fully participate in the counseling, educational, recreational, religious, and social programs that are essential to their well-being and rehabilitation is an essential part of our work,” Hoy said in a statement.
Hoy also stressed that the new policy will ensure that both staff and inmates understand the resources available to them, ensuring that the Department of Corrections can effectively serve all inmates, including those with disabilities.
Department Faces Broader Scrutiny
This settlement comes at a time when the Wisconsin Department of Corrections is under increased public scrutiny following a series of inmate deaths in recent months. Since June 2023, five inmates at Waupun Correctional Institution have died, with causes ranging from suicide to a fentanyl overdose and malnutrition. Charges have been brought against the prison’s former warden, Randall Hepp, and other staff members in connection with two of these deaths.
In addition, federal authorities are investigating a suspected smuggling ring at Waupun. A former employee recently pleaded guilty to smuggling contraband, including cellphones, tobacco, and drugs, into the prison in exchange for money.
