SJC Exchange Library

This in-depth report exposes how Deaf people and people with disabilities—especially those who are also people of color—are disproportionately represented in jails and other local criminal legal systems. It traces the history of institutionalization and systemic discrimination, and examines the community-level inequities and carceral system failures that perpetuate these disparities. Drawing on research, policy analysis, and lived experience, the authors call for sweeping reforms that center accessibility, accommodations, and equity. Recommendations span from improved data collection and universal design to system-wide training and inclusion of disability advocates in reform efforts.