Justice Department Secures Agreement with North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections to Improve Communication Access for Incarcerated People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Thursday, August 28, 2025 - The Justice Department today secured an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC) to ensure that incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities are provided effective communication and the opportunity to participate equally in NCDAC’s prison services, programs, and activities. NCDAC operates more than 50 prison facilities and houses more than 30,000 individuals.
The agreement resolves complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) alleging that NCDAC fails to provide incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities with sign language interpreters, hearing aids, cochlear implants, text telephones, videophones, and other auxiliary aids and services. Under the settlement agreement, NCDAC will identify and accommodate incarcerated individuals with appropriate auxiliary aids and services, as well as provide training on the ADA to staff.
“The ADA requires effective communication for incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities so they have access to critical programs, including religious and vocational services,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to eliminating barriers, including communication barriers, that prevent individuals with disabilities from participating fully in prison programs.”
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Source: Justice.gov
