Sunday, February 9, 2025
53.6 F
Roseville

Searching for Understanding: Part 2

Last column, I introduced you to “Joshua,” a deaf man in his 40s currently serving a lengthy prison sentence, in part for trying to illegally buy marijuana.

His sister “Cindy,” who I interviewed, believed much of her brother’s legal problems in great measure have been due to his inability to understand and communicate well in English. In other words, he hasn’t been able to fully understand the law. Today, sitting in a prison cell, he now fully understands the specific laws he broke, but that understanding hasn’t helped him navigate prison life. There is still so much he doesn’t understand.

For starters, Cindy said this about Joshua’s initial intake at local jail: “Imagine you’ve been arrested and are going to jail. They’re taking off your clothes, cutting your hair, and giving you medical exams in which they touch and probe all the orifices. Now imagine having to do that with people who can’t talk your language. They didn’t have an interpreter there saying what they would be doing to him and why.”

Later, in state prison, Joshua’s fears increased. First, he couldn’t hear the prison rules explained and no video of the rules was played. When prisoners were outside, the guards rang a bell to prod the prisoners into lining up before herding them in. Being deaf, Joshua couldn’t hear the bell and was disciplined several times for not lining up. Also, the prison has only sound alarms to alert prisoners to fire. At home, he feared fire and had a visual alarm.

“And during one medical check-up,” added Cindy, “the doctor wanted to take blood and there was no (sign language) interpreter to explain why. (Joshua) didn’t know if the needle was clean and he wanted to see it come out of the package himself because he thought it could have AIDS. He couldn’t get the doctor to understand him. When refusing to have his blood drawn, he got disciplined again. Anyone should have the right to question those things.”

Cindy asked the warden for an interpreter, but to no avail. A few months ago, Joshua became so frustrated in being unable to understand prison life he got into a fistfight, which led to his sentence being extended. Cindy said prisoners speaking non-English languages (including sign language) should have interpreters available to help prisoners comply with rules and to make prisons a safer place.



Brighter Side

Trending

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Topics

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Roseville Today Super Bowl party picks for Eagles and Chiefs game

Roseville, Calif.- This Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. A super-sized rematch and unofficial national holiday of $8 million dollar commercials, food and drink and a little football.

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin, Calif.

All American Sweeping Co. in Roseville

All American Sweeping's objective is to provide personalized customer service with an emphasis on professionalism, communication, responsiveness and quality at a fair price

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Roseville Sheet Metal serving community’s heating and air needs for over 70 years

Roseville, Calif. - At Roseville Sheet Metal, we’re proud of our years of service to the Roseville area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs.

Paul Black’s Solar Panel Cleaning in Roseville serving the region for over 30 years

Roseville, Calif. - Money-saving solar panels in Roseville, Rocklin and throughout South Placer County have become ubiquitous From new residential solar communities continue to big business and after market installation, solar seems to be a smart choice to shred those high monthly electric costs.

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 24 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.