Va. Prison to Get Videophones for Deaf Inmates

STATE FARM, Va. — The Powhatan Correctional Center in State Farm will become the first major prison in the United States to install videophones to enable deaf inmates to communicate with family and friends. The move is part of a recent lawsuit settlement.

Deaf inmates sued the Virginia Department of Corrections last January, accusing it of discrimination. The group says videophones will allow them to reach out to family that they had not been able to communicate with for some time.

The DOC will also train employees, who regularly work with deaf prisoners to enhance their communication capabilities, according to reports.