One of the most feared things that can happen to a trans-person is being jailed. Would we be put in prison of our birth gender? Would we be put in solitary confinement? Would we be in with the general population? Many times all they go by is what is between your legs and ignore the fact that you might have breast and look totally feminine.
The Bangor Maine television station WLBZ2 has an article about the Penobscot and Cumberland counties jails and how they process transgender inmates.
Transgender inmates pushing policy changesIt is nice to see that these counties do base their decisions on more than what is between their legs.
By Samantha Edwards,
July 24, 2014
BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Awareness for transgender individuals continues to grow in society. A person who is born a man or woman, but who in every other way see themselves as the opposite sex. For many people it can be an uncomfortable topic. For others they completely accept it. Where the topic is being discussed more is inside our county jails and state prisons. Transgender inmates change the way booking, housing, and safety protocols are done. The increased number of transgender individuals coming in are causing correctional officers to reevaluate.
Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross said, "One thing we have learned is that there is no gold standard here so we are learning as we go along and trying to do the right thing."
In Maine each transgender case is handled individually. The inmate, correctional officers, and mental health experts hold a meeting to understand where the inmate is in their process if any, what gender they relate to, and what housing would best suit their situation.
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