ADA Policy

Procedure

Custody of Inmates in Accordance Approved: with Americans with Disabilities Act

Purpose and Scope

This policy provides guidelines for addressing the needs and rights of inmates detained by this office in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Definitions

Definitions related to this policy include

Disability – The ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities. These include, but are not limited to, any disability that would substantially limit the mobility of an individual or an impairment of vision and/or hearing, speaking or performing manual tasks that require some level of dexterity.

Policy

This office will take all reasonable steps to accommodate inmates with disabilities while they are in custody and will comply with the ADA and any related state laws. Discrimination on the basis of disability is prohibited. This office prohibits all forms of discrimination based on disability (37 Tex. Admin. Code § 269.4).
A designated staff member will act as coordinator to ensure compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in Section 35.107 of the U.S. Department of Justice Regulations.

Accommodation Requests

Inmates shall be asked to reveal any accommodation requests during the intake process. Any such request will be addressed according to the intake process.

Requests for accommodation after initial entry into the facility should be made through the standard facility request process and should be reviewed by a supervisor and medical staff within 24 hours of the request being made. The reviewing supervisor should evaluate the requests and, if approved by medical, notify the Detention Lieutenant (ADA Coordinator) and any other staff necessary to meet the accommodation. The supervisor should make a record of the accommodation in an internal incident report and a copy shall be placed in the inmate’s file.
A supervisor who does not grant the accommodation, either in part or in full, shall document the reason for the denial or partial accommodation in an internal incident report. The supervisor will forward the request and reason for denial or partial accommodation to the Detention Lieutenant (ADA Coordinator) within 48 hours of the request being made. The Detention Lieutenant (ADA Coordinator), with the assistance of the Assistant Jail Administrator and/or legal counsel, should make a determination regarding the request within five (5) days of the request being made.

ADA Complaints

A grievance procedure is in place for anyone who feels that he or she is a victim of discrimination as defined by title II of the A.D.A.

Visitors who wish to submit a grievance to the Rockwall County Detention Center may do so by obtaining a form from the Detention Center or the Rockwall Sheriff’s Office website.

The grievance form or complaint, upon completion, may be left for the Detention Lieutenant in the envelope provided or, it may be mailed to the address listed on the “A. D. A. Discrimination Complaint Form.”

Here is the downloadable ADA Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF).