Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, DOJ Reach Settlement on Inmates with Disabilities

(CORRECTION 11/22/2016): Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this release inadvertently left out that under the terms of the agreement reached with the Department of Justice, Abreham Zemedagegehu will receive a $250,000 payment. We regret the omission.) Sheriff agrees to change policies, practices to fully comply with ADA. Substantial changes already implemented The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office has amended its policies and practices to ensure full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in its treatment of inmates with disabilities in a settlement reached with the Department of Justice.The agreement settles a lawsuit brought by Abreham Zemedagegehu, a deaf Ethiopian immigrant who alleged that he was not provided appropriate accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act during a six-week stay in the County Detention Facility in 2015. The settlement includes a $250,000 payment to Zemedagegehu. The Department of Justice began an investigation in April 2015.