Letter I wrote to the county - feedback?

MikeJ · 01-08-2009, 02:40 PM

To Whom It May Concern:

Cc: Judge Matthew Headley, Head Probation Officer Teresa Parish, Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter, Public Defender Melissa Jackman-Hamlin,

RE: Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

My name is Michael Johnson and I am writing in regard to what I consider outrageous treatment that I am receiving via the Putnam County Probation Department. To get right to the point, I am legally disabled and I am being discriminated upon by said probation department due to my disability. I have not received the equal treatment which is guaranteed to me by law. I have repeatedly requested to have a sign-language interpreter present during all legal proceedings and repeatedly this Constitutional right has been denied to me. It is appalling that one whom has been trusted with the job of Head Probation Officer be so lacking in knowledge and procedures that are written in our very Constitution.
I have been legally deaf since I was, I believe, 5 or 6 years old. I have attended Indiana School for the Deaf, I have received a disability check due to my hearing from the government, and I have received sign-language interpreters for furthering my education at Indiana State University. Nowhere have I ever been put in such an insulting position regarding my disability. I have been told by the probation department that I “read lips well enough” and that because of this no interpreter is required? Then accused of lying about talking to the Prosecutor? This is just insulting. What kind of utter ignorance is this? They are neither qualified, nor entitled to assume they know what I can and cannot do and have crossed the boundaries of their job description.
I am intending to contact the ACLU regarding this situation, because this is ridiculous. Putnam County is employing criminals to our very Justice system that we are supposed to trust to carry out the law. Hypocrisy? I think so. I have taken many steps and have made many attempts to receive what is legally entitled to me, but it seems that Putnam County is determined to have a lawsuit in their hands. I have been discriminated against, insulted, humiliated, and I will not stand for it anymore.

jillio · 01-08-2009, 03:05 PM

Well done!

naisho · 01-08-2009, 03:10 PM

Very well argument written and precise to the point over what you want to state.

What exactly happened here if you don't mind me asking?
The prosecution is stating that your usage of sign is inappropriate for being a juror on the case? Or are you a defendant?
They are saying you can lipread, are they afraid of you lipreading what they are whispering to their clients or something?

MikeJ · 01-08-2009, 03:29 PM

I'm on probation and the probation department doesn't see fit to provide an interpreter. I've already been through the courts.

jillio · 01-08-2009, 04:12 PM

Be sure to keep copies of this letter. If it becomes necessary for you to file a complaint with the DOJ, you will need documentation.

Beowulf · 01-08-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Be sure to keep copies of this letter. If it becomes necessary for you to file a complaint with the DOJ, you will need documentation.

For proper documentation the letter should be sent via certified mail. I think. Lol

Mrs Bucket · 01-08-2009, 05:06 PM

Excellent and well written!

Very well to the point as well. Hang in there. Everyone is entitled to an interpreter no matter what language they are speaking.

It is called human rights and each time they do not provide interpreting, they are violating your basic human rights.

imdeafsowhat · 01-09-2009, 12:29 PM

It's no worries. They're just bad, corrupted people. I've encoutered hundreds of them. Just need to outsmart them. Good luck on your proceedings.

01-08-2009, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
MikeJ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23	Letter I wrote to the county - feedback? To Whom It May Concern: Cc: Judge Matthew Headley, Head Probation Officer Teresa Parish, Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter, Public Defender Melissa Jackman-Hamlin, RE: Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 My name is Michael Johnson and I am writing in regard to what I consider outrageous treatment that I am receiving via the Putnam County Probation Department. To get right to the point, I am legally disabled and I am being discriminated upon by said probation department due to my disability. I have not received the equal treatment which is guaranteed to me by law. I have repeatedly requested to have a sign-language interpreter present during all legal proceedings and repeatedly this Constitutional right has been denied to me. It is appalling that one whom has been trusted with the job of Head Probation Officer be so lacking in knowledge and procedures that are written in our very Constitution. I have been legally deaf since I was, I believe, 5 or 6 years old. I have attended Indiana School for the Deaf, I have received a disability check due to my hearing from the government, and I have received sign-language interpreters for furthering my education at Indiana State University. Nowhere have I ever been put in such an insulting position regarding my disability. I have been told by the probation department that I “read lips well enough” and that because of this no interpreter is required? Then accused of lying about talking to the Prosecutor? This is just insulting. What kind of utter ignorance is this? They are neither qualified, nor entitled to assume they know what I can and cannot do and have crossed the boundaries of their job description. I am intending to contact the ACLU regarding this situation, because this is ridiculous. Putnam County is employing criminals to our very Justice system that we are supposed to trust to carry out the law. Hypocrisy? I think so. I have taken many steps and have made many attempts to receive what is legally entitled to me, but it seems that Putnam County is determined to have a lawsuit in their hands. I have been discriminated against, insulted, humiliated, and I will not stand for it anymore.

01-08-2009, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
naisho Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,007	Very well argument written and precise to the point over what you want to state. What exactly happened here if you don't mind me asking? The prosecution is stating that your usage of sign is inappropriate for being a juror on the case? Or are you a defendant? They are saying you can lipread, are they afraid of you lipreading what they are whispering to their clients or something? __________________

01-08-2009, 05:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mrs Bucket has retired from AllDeaf. Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,348	Excellent and well written! Very well to the point as well. Hang in there. Everyone is entitled to an interpreter no matter what language they are speaking. It is called human rights and each time they do not provide interpreting, they are violating your basic human rights. __________________ My new nieces/nephews are arriving soon!

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01-08-2009, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
jillio Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 32,396	Well done!

01-08-2009, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
MikeJ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23	I'm on probation and the probation department doesn't see fit to provide an interpreter. I've already been through the courts.

01-08-2009, 04:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
jillio Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 32,396	Be sure to keep copies of this letter. If it becomes necessary for you to file a complaint with the DOJ, you will need documentation.

01-09-2009, 12:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
imdeafsowhat Banned Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Golden Coast Posts: 1,983	It's no worries. They're just bad, corrupted people. I've encoutered hundreds of them. Just need to outsmart them. Good luck on your proceedings.