AR35

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblyman HAROLD "HAL" J. WIRTHS

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Space, Holley, Assemblywomen McKnight, Swain, Assemblyman McKeon, Assemblywomen Jimenez and Timberlake

SYNOPSIS

Urges all law enforcement agencies to implement training programs on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging all law enforcement agencies to implement training programs on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired.

Whereas, An individual who is hearing impaired often has difficulty hearing conversation, which leads to exclusion from communication, which may have a significant negative impact on the individual’s everyday life; and

Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 15 percent of American adults report some trouble hearing; and

Whereas, There are approximately 850,000 New Jersey residents with varying degrees of hearing loss ranging from mild to profound, which includes individuals who are born deaf and individuals who encounter late stage hearing loss; and

Whereas, Under the “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”, individuals who are hearing impaired are entitled to the same services governmental agencies provides to anyone else; and

Whereas, Although the “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” requires individuals who are hearing impaired be guaranteed equal services by governmental agencies, more can be done to properly train law enforcement officers on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired; and

Whereas, Interactions with law enforcement, even for simple traffic violations, can be high stress situations for individuals who are hearing impaired; and

Whereas, Law enforcement agencies should provide officers with the training necessary to communicate effectively with individuals who are hearing impaired; and

Whereas, Effective communication between individuals who are hearing impaired and law enforcement officers is essential in ascertaining what actually occurred, the urgency of the matter and the type of situation; and

Whereas, Individuals who are hearing impaired have unique ways of communicating, either through lip-reading, gestures, visual aids, or various other forms, that should be understood by law enforcement officers; and

Whereas, Law enforcement agencies around the country have taken steps on how to effectively and appropriately approach individuals who are hearing impaired; and

Whereas, Although the New Jersey Police Training Commission does mandate basic courses on how to interact with individuals with special needs, including individuals who are hearing impaired, more can be done; and

Whereas, All law enforcement agencies should implement training programs for law enforcement officers focused exclusively on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House respectfully urges all law enforcement agencies to implement training programs on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey and the Executive Director of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.

STATEMENT

This resolution respectfully urges all law enforcement agencies to provide training to law enforcement officers on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired. Individuals who are hearing impaired face increased stress when interacting with law enforcement officers given the communication barriers between the two parties. Approximately 850,000 individuals in New Jersey are hearing impaired and, therefore, subject to this communication barrier with law enforcement officers. Individuals who are hearing impaired have unique ways of communicating that should be understood by law enforcement officers. Effective communication between individuals who are hearing impaired and law enforcement officers is essential in ascertaining what actually occurred, the urgency of the matter and the type of situation.

Law enforcement agencies around the country have taken steps on how to effectively and appropriately approach individuals who are hearing impaired. The New Jersey Police Training Commission currently mandates basic training courses for officers on how to interact with individuals with special needs, including individuals who are hearing impaired. However, a more comprehensive training program, focused exclusively on how to approach individuals who are hearing impaired, could help to overcome the communication barriers between law enforcement officers and individuals who are hearing impaired. Improved communication between law enforcement officers and individuals who are hearing impaired could lead to better outcomes for the two parties.