This policy is meant to provide guidance to staff in dealing with transgender inmates. Prisons must ensure transgender inmates can access programs and services to meet their needs. Sufficient resources must be allocated by the prison. Staff must be trained on the increased risk of suicide, mental health issues, and victimization of transgender inmates.
The Health Services Division oversees all medical and psychiatric activity as it applies to transgender inmates. Hormone or other medical treatment may be provided after an assessment of the inmate by institution medical staff.
Transgender inmates will be pat-searched in accordance with the gender of the institution. An exception can be obtained by the Warden and documentation of the exception is carried with the inmate at all times.
In deciding where a transgender inmate will live, the BOP staff have to determine “whether the placement would present management or security problems.” … “Transgender inmates shall be given the opportunity to shower separate from other inmates.”
Concerns:
The BOP already has a serious problem with trying to get people to live together in housing units. Many inmates are assaulted on a frequent basis because of their race, gang membership, or sex offender status. If the BOP has trouble mixing these groups of inmates, many question whether it can ever safely integrate transgendered inmates into the system.
The BOP’s financial resources are extremely limited. Many inmates are denied medical care because it is too expensive. Getting an MRI may only take a few days in the free world but can take six months in the BOP. Getting a simple pair of eyeglasses may only take a few days in the free world but can take a year or more in the BOP. Given that the financial resources are extremely limited, some worry that the transgendered population will be neglected. Others argue the transgendered community will get special treatment.
