Monday, March 11, 2013

Colorado Terp Lawsuit Settled

A Denver-area town is settling a lawsuit over sign language interpreters. William Lawrence and the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition sued the Englewood Police Department after Lawrence was arrested in 2011. Englewood officers did not provide him with an interpreter during questioning and he was kept handcuffed, leaving him unable to communicate. A day after his arrest, Lawrence was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail. He was then provided with an interpreter. Englewood Police claimed passing notes was good enough, but facing a likely loss in court, the department agreed to provide interpreters to any deaf people who are arrested, detained or questioned. But even with the settlement, Englewood refused to admit any wrongdoing. Learn more about the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition here.