Policy Text
Page 1 of 4 General Order 6-26 - (01/18/24 )
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION FOR DEAF AND HEARING -IMPAIRED PERSONS
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION FOR DEAF
AND HEARING -IMPAIRED PERSONS
Chapter
6 Number
26 Pages
4
References
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Rehabilitation
Act of 1973; Virginians with Disabi lities Act Effective Date: 01/18/2024
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 05/27/2020
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish guidelines for providing interpretation services to
persons who are deaf or hearing -impaired whose primary language is sign language.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This General Order is due for review , and procedures for using a qualified sign language
interpreter have been updated. All new language has been bold and italicized throughout
the document.
III. POLIC Y
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Virginians with Disabilities Act of 1985 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination against individuals with
disabilities and require the provision of reasonable accommodation . Pursuant to these legal
guidelines, it is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to provide or arrange for sign
language interpreters when communicating with deaf or hearing -impaired arrestees or, upon
request, for any eligible deaf or hearing -impaired person wi shing to participate in or attend
any program sponsored or presented by the Police Department .
IV. DEFINITIONS
A. HEARING -IMPAIRED – Persons who have difficulty hearing and comprehending
spoken language . As victims, complainants or arrestees, persons who are de af or
profoundly hard of hearing may need the services of a qualified interpreter.
B. INTERPRETER – The term “interpreter” refers to both interpreters and translators
who facilitate communication between persons who are deaf or hearing -impaired and
persons w ho are not hearing impaired.
Page 2 of 4 General Order 6-26 - (01/18/24 )
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION FOR DEAF AND HEARING -IMPAIRED PERSONS C. NATIONAL CERTIFICATION DEFINITIONS :
1. CI Certificate of Interpreting
2. CSC Comprehensive Skills Certificate
3. CT Certificate of Transliterating
4. MCSC Master Comprehensive Skills Certificate
5. OIC:C Oral Interpreter C ertificate: Comprehensive
6. OIC:S/V Oral Interpreter Certificate: Spoken to Visible
7. OIC:V/S Oral Interpreter Certificate: Visible to Spoken
8. RSC Reverse Skills Certificate
9. SC:L Specialty Certificate: Legal
10. CDI Certified Deaf Interpreter
11. NIC:A/M National Interpreter Certification, Advanced or Master
V. PROCEDURE
A. Procedure for Communicating with Deaf and Hearing -Impaired Arrestees Whose
Primary Language is Sign Language:
1. If an arrestee has difficulty understanding or communicating orally with th e
officer and the officer suspects that the individual is deaf or hearing -impaired ,
the officer should attempt to determine the arrestee’s mode of communication
before contactin g a sign language interpreter .
NOTE: Individuals who are either deaf or heari ng-impaired may carry Visor
or Wallet Alert Cards that will help the officer understand the best
mode of communication with the individual . The Alert Cards are
issued through the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing (VDDHH) and identifies t he bearer as deaf or hearing -
impaired and recommends the best way to communicate, such as
sign language, lip reading or writing .
2. In order to communicate effectively with a deaf or hearing -impaired arrestee,
whose primary language is sign language, Richmond Police Department
members will only communicate with the arrestee through a qualified interpreter
as indicated below:
a) The officer shall document on the Rights Waiver Form (PD -75) that the
accused, under federal law, was offered an interpreter at no cost a nd that
any interview would be deferred pending the appearance of the interpreter
at no cost to the accused.
b) At the earliest possible time after the arrest of a deaf or hearing -impaired
Page 3 of 4 General Order 6-26 - (01/18/24 )
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION FOR DEAF AND HEARING -IMPAIRED PERSONS person, the arresting officer shall communicate to the arrestee the Mi randa
Warning on the Rights Waiver Form (PD -75), using the interpreter as
communication access.
B. Procedure for Presenting the Miranda Warning:
1. In order to satisfy the court that the accused understood their rights, the officer
cannot merely show the Miranda Warning on a written form to the arrestee.
Therefore, it will be necessary for an interpreter to explain these rights during
any interview and questioning and during the taking of any statement.
2. The notice of the right to a sign language interpreter durin g all communication
must be conveyed through a qualified interpreter at the earliest time after the
arrest . After receiving such notice, the right to an interpreter may be waived only
by the deaf or hearing -impaired arrestee through a qualified interpreter or written
communication.
3. The burden of proof that the waiver was clearly understood rests with the police .
In order to successfully satisfy this burden, the officer shall attempt to ensure
that:
a) There is no