Problems encountered by prisons in dealing with deaf inmates include the diversity in sign languages used by the deaf, patterns in which the deaf interact or do not interact with "hearing" society, the various categories of deafness, patterns of nonverbal communication, the formation of gangs of deaf inmates, and lawsuits by deaf inmates. Ways of dealing with these problems include staff training in the subculture of deaf persons, the purchase of equipment manufactured especially for deaf/hearing impaired persons, and the creation of orientation programs specifically for deaf inmates. Problems experienced by deaf inmates are isolation, a lack of interpreters in prison, the indifference of the prison administration toward their special needs, and lack of funding for resources for deaf inmates. Socialization with other deaf inmates within the prison environment is a major benefit for the deaf inmates, and the use of outside interpreters is helpful. Coping with attitudes and misconceptions by State officials, administration, and staff can only be improved with training in the subculture of the deaf and in the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides comprehensive civil rights protection for disabled persons. Appended media accounts of lawsuits filed by deaf inmates and 3 references