JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH MARYLAND JUVENILE SERVICES TO ASSURE APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION WITH JUVENILES WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice today announced the signing of settlement agreements with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (“MDJS”) and with Youth Services International, Inc. and its parent corporation Correctional Services Corp. (collectively “YSI”), regarding the provision of services required by the Americans with Disabilities Act to juveniles with hearing disabilities. MDJS and YSI have agreed to provide required assistance to juveniles detained in their facilities or otherwise receiving their services.

The agreements originated with complaints filed with the Department by a deaf juvenile alleging a failure to provide required services. The juvenile alleged that during his five-month detention at an MDJS facility he was never provided access to an interpreter, and that during a 13-month stay at a YSI-operated facility, he was permitted only limited access to an interpreter. This lack of access largely prevented him from participating in rehabilitation, counseling, and other offered social and educational programs. In addition, even when provided an interpreter, he alleged segregated housing and limited opportunities for participation in programs.

Under the agreements, which govern all MDJS and YSI facilities, MDJS and YSI will:
- ensure that auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters, are available to juveniles with hearing impairments where necessary for effective communication;
- evaluate such juveniles to determine what, if any, auxiliary aids and services are necessary for their equal participation in services, programs, or activities;
- provide assistive technology such as text telephones, volume controls, and hearing aid-compatible telephones, visual alarms, and captioning in each facility;
- develop ADA training programs for staff having contact with juveniles and ensure that each facility has an employee designated to address ADA compliance issues; and
- together pay $65,000 in compensatory damages, and YSI will pay $10,000 in civil penalties to the United States.

This agreement is another step forward in President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive program to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society by increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational and employment opportunities, and promoting access into daily community life.

People interested in finding out more about the ADA or the agreement can call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at <http://www.ada.gov>.

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