Abstract
A number of important sociological and psychological factors result from linguistic development delay and cultural dissonance. These are unique to the deaf and hard of hearing offender population and need to be taken into account in efforts to assess the vocational, educational and psychological needs of deaf prison inmates. This paper discusses these various factors and provides suggestions for corrections officials to remediate these problems.

Aviva Twersky-Glasner
New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission
Aviva Twersky-Glasner is a Doctoral Candidate in Criminal Justice at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She has earned a Master of Philosophy degree in Criminal Justice from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and Master of Arts degrees in both Forensic Psychology and in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York. Her dissertation research centers on the cultural and linguistic deficits of deaf inmates. Ms. Twersky-Glasner works as a Research Scientist for the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission. Email: aviavi43@yahoo.com

Matthew J. Sheridan
Georgian Court University
Matthew J. Sheridan is a corrections professional with more than 35 years of experience. Currently, he is an Executive Assistant with the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission and an adjunct professor at Georgian Court University. His doctorate was completed at Rutgers University and his dissertation explored the personal prison experience. Current research includes the study of prisonization utilizing the convict autobiography as an ethnographic tool. Email: matt.sheridan@njjjc.org