Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
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Georgia
Jun 2020
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Harris v. Georgia Department of Corrections
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.
Court Case
Jun 2020
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Cobb v. Georgia Department of Community Supervision
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.
Court Case
Aug 2015
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Racial Justice
S.R. v. Kenton County Sheriff's Office
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.
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5 Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System Cases
Washington, D.C.
May 2024
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Disability Rights
Mathis v. United States Parole Commission
This federal class-action lawsuit alleges that the federal government’s post-conviction supervision system in Washington, D.C., violates Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by systematically failing to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities on supervision.
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Washington, D.C.
May 2024
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Disability Rights
Mathis v. United States Parole Commission
This federal class-action lawsuit alleges that the federal government’s post-conviction supervision system in Washington, D.C., violates Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by systematically failing to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities on supervision.
Washington, D.C.
Jul 2023
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Criminal Law Reform
Bread for the City v. District of Columbia
A federal lawsuit challenges the District of Columbia’s practice of sending police officers rather than mental health providers to respond to mental health emergencies.
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Washington, D.C.
Jul 2023
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Criminal Law Reform
Bread for the City v. District of Columbia
A federal lawsuit challenges the District of Columbia’s practice of sending police officers rather than mental health providers to respond to mental health emergencies.
Court Case
Jun 2020
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Racial Justice
McCadden v. City of Flint
The ACLU and the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit against the Flint Police Department and the Flint Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Cameron McCadden, a child with disabilities who was handcuffed by a school resource officer (SRO) when he was seven years old. Cameron, who is black, has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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Court Case
Jun 2020
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Racial Justice
McCadden v. City of Flint
The ACLU and the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit against the Flint Police Department and the Flint Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Cameron McCadden, a child with disabilities who was handcuffed by a school resource officer (SRO) when he was seven years old. Cameron, who is black, has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Georgia
Jun 2018
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Coen v. Georgia Department of Corrections
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia, together with the National Association of the Deaf and Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, filed a motion in federal court to pursue a class action lawsuit on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people imprisoned in and released from the Georgia Department of Corrections. The proposed complaint highlights how prison, probation, and parole systems fail deaf prisoners – leading deaf people to go to prison more often, stay longer, and return more quickly.
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Georgia
Jun 2018
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Coen v. Georgia Department of Corrections
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia, together with the National Association of the Deaf and Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, filed a motion in federal court to pursue a class action lawsuit on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people imprisoned in and released from the Georgia Department of Corrections. The proposed complaint highlights how prison, probation, and parole systems fail deaf prisoners – leading deaf people to go to prison more often, stay longer, and return more quickly.
U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2015
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
City and County of San Francisco v. Sheehan
Whether the ADA's requirement to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities applies to arrests and detentions.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2015
Disability Rights and the Criminal Legal System
City and County of San Francisco v. Sheehan
Whether the ADA's requirement to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities applies to arrests and detentions.