Policy Text
Page 1 of 12 San Francisco Police Department 5.23
GENERAL ORDER 09/16/20
Interactions with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals
5.23.01
POLICY
It is the policy o f the San Francisco Police Department ( Department ) to provide the highest level
of service to all community members, including individuals who are D eaf or hard of hearing.
Under federal and state law, including Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and California Government Code section
11135, the Department has legal obligations to ensure mem bers communicate effectively with
individuals who are D eaf or hard of hearing and that the se individual s are not subject ed to
unlawful discrimination. Individuals who are D eaf or hard of hearing are entitled to the same
level of services as hearing individuals and shall not be excluded, segregated, or denied
assistance whether they are a suspect of a crim e, are in custody or detaine d, a victim or witness
of a crim e, or a person in need of assistance.
5.23.02
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to outline procedu res members shall follow when encounter ing an
individual who is D eaf or hard of hearing and the services available to meet these legal
obligations. The Department shall provide all services necessary to effectively communicate
with an individual free of charge including a qualified interpreter or the appropriate preferred
auxiliary aid requested by the individual.
SFPD stands for safety with respect for all. We will
• Engage in just, transparent, unbiased, and responsive policing
• Do so in the spirit of dignity and in collaboration with the community
• Maintain and build trust and respect as the guardian of constituti onal and human rights.
5.23.03
DEFINITIONS
A. American Sign Language (ASL) – The primary sign language used in North
America, ASL is a complete, visual language with its own grammar and syntax
that uses the shape, movement, and placement of hands as well as facial
expression and body posture to convey information.
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B. Auxiliary Aids – Tools, equipment, items, and /or services used to effectively
communicate with an individual who is D eaf, hard of hearing, and/or has low to
no vision. These include assistive listening devices, qualified interpreter
services, written communications and materials, pads, pens, gestures,
telecommunication devices (TDDs), videophones, and video remote interpreting
devices (i.e., computers or tablets).
C. Certified Deaf Interpreter (CD I) – A qualified interpreter who is Deaf or hard
of hearing.
D. Deaf -Blind Individual – An individual who has limited to no functional hearing
ability and uncorrectable low vision and/or the complete lack of light perception
who may rely on a tactile form of communication.
E. Deaf or Hard of Hearing Individual – An individual with limited to no
functional hearing ability who relies on a visual system for communication instead
of processing linguistic information through hearing, wit h or without
amplification , and also includes individuals who may have a hearing loss because
of age, illness or trauma.
F. Exigent Circumstance Exception – An exigent circumstance arises when an
officer has specific and articulable facts that a particular action was performed by
an officer due to concerns of the person’s, the safety of others or the safety of the
involved officer(s).
G. Lip and Speech Reading – Technique of understanding speech by visually
interpreting the movements of the lips, tongue, and/or face.
1. Do not assume that a Deaf or hard of hearing individual reads lips. Even
when a Deaf individual reads lips, only 25% of spoken language is visible
on the lips.
2. Individuals’ lip or speechreading skills may diminish for a variety of
reasons, includin g stress trauma, sleep deprivation, or the influence of
alcohol or medication.
H. Qualified Interpreter – A person certified by the National Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf who is able to interpret and translate effectively,
accurately, and impartially both receptively and expressively, using any necessary
specialized vocabulary (including basic law enforcement terminology) taking into
consideration the language skills and education of the individual in need of
services. As well as their preferred method of communication (sign language,
video relay, etc.) . Qualified interpreters should have no other responsibilities than
interpreting. Because a qualified interpreter must be able to interpret impartially, a
family member, child, or friend of the individual who is D eaf may not be qualified
to render the necessary interpretation because of factors such as professional,
emotional, or personal involvement, or considerations of confidentiality.
1. For an individual who is Deaf or hard of hearing and uses American Sign
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Language for communication, the term "qualified interpreter" means a certified
interpreter skilled in communicating in American Sign Language or Signed
language .
2. The term "qualified interpreter" encompasses relay interpreter teams, when
such are necessary for effective communication.
I. Relay Interpreter Teams – Two or more persons used to communicate with an
individual with very minimal language skills including ASL. The team works
together using a variety of methods to effectively convey information to and from
the individual.