FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1997                              (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
  JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES A SETTLEMENT WITH THE WISCONSIN
  STATE PATROL TO PERMIT DEAF PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH POLICE

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Wisconsin State Patrol will ensure
that members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing will
be able to communicate effectively during law enforcement
situations, under an agreement reached today with the Justice
Department.

     Under the agreement, the State Patrol will provide qualified
sign language interpreters when necessary during enforcement
situations, ranging from traffic stops to arrests to criminal
interrogations.  The agreement stems from a complaint filed under
the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by a deaf man who
alleged that State Patrolmen refused to let him communicate
during a 1995 traffic stop.   

     "Every American should be able to communicate with their
local police officers," said Acting Assistant Attorney General
for Civil Rights Isabelle K. Pinzler. "We are pleased that the
Wisconsin State Patrol has taken steps to ensure effective
communication with individuals who have hearing impairments."    

     In July 1995, the complainant was detained by police in his
car.  According to his complaint, the officers initially refused
his requests to provide him with a pen and paper to communicate,
and would not let him try to use sign language.  

     The Justice Department's investigation revealed that the
State Patrol did not have policies or procedures for dealing with
members of the public with hearing impairments in typical police
situations.

     The agreement requires the State Patrol to:

     *    adopt policies and guidelines for providing effective
          communication and include them in its official
          operations manual;

     *    train all of its patrol personnel on the policies and
          procedures by March 31, 1998;

     *    publicize the adoption of the policies and procedures;
          and,

     *    ensure that at least one Telecommunications Device for
          the Deaf (TDD) is provided at every patrol facility
          around the state.

     Title II of the ADA covers state and local government
entities, including law enforcement departments.  The law
requires covered entities to provide auxiliary aids and services
such as qualified interpreters, written materials, and note pads
in order to ensure that communication with members of the public
who have hearing impairments is effective.

     Individuals or law enforcement agencies who wish to learn
more about the ADA are encouraged to contact the Justice
Department's ADA technical assistance hotline at (800) 514-0301
(voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TDD) or to access the ADA Internet
home page at (http://www.usdoj/crt/ada/adahom.1.htm).

                               ###
97-270