NCJ Number
79618
Journal
ON PATROL IN MANITOBA Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1981) Pages: 12-15
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This Canadian police journal article provides guidance concerning police communication with deaf persons.
Abstract
The article emphasizes that lack of language skills must not be equated with lack of intelligence. Police officers encountering deaf persons should use a combination of basic sign language, writing, and careful speech under good lighting. Police officers attempting to communicate with deaf persons should never assume that deaf persons understand what is being communicated; they should make certain that they do. Lipreading alone is not considered an adequate means of receiving information. The officer should exercise patience in communicating with the deaf person and ensure that there is a mutual understanding. In court, deaf persons must usually depend on the services of an interpreter both to understand the court and to make themselves understood. The American Sign Language alphabet, diagrams, and footnotes are provided.