How is it possible that we live in a world where the safety of our young girls in juvenile facilities is compromised to accommodate policies that make no sense?
At a Glance
- Juvenile centers face challenges handling transgender inmates, risking bullying and assault.
- President Trump tried to segregate male and female inmates, yet confusion persists due to outdated regulations.
- Federal regulations push states to consider transgender identity over biological sex when housing inmates.
- Advocates demand changes to protect young female inmates specifically from adult males identifying as females.
Juvenile Centers Struggling
Current policies concerning transgender inmates in juvenile facilities are manifesting in ways that significantly endanger our young girls. Juvenile facilities, under regulations from the Obama administration, must consider individuals’ transgender identities or face the loss of federal funding. Due to these regulations, physically adult males who identify as females can find themselves nestled in facilities with young girls—not only endangering the young girls but equally failing to provide the transgender youth with the care they require.
Juvenile Detention Centers Struggle With Transgender Inmates
The challenges and vulnerability faced by transgender teens in these settings are alarming. Detention centers often lack the proper resources to manage these situations, further subjecting transgender youth to bullying, sexual assault, depression, and even suicide. Untrained staff, overcrowded facilities, and insufficient resources contribute to a precarious environment for all involved.
Confusion and Controversy Reign
Despite President Trump issuing policies aimed at keeping male and female juvenile offenders separate, the messy aftermath of Obama-era regulations still looms large. PREA standards complicate matters by dictating that housing decisions consider “safety, security, and personal views,” leading to inconsistent applications across facilities nationwide. Advocates argue that these policies prioritize transgender accommodations while sidelining female safety.
“Kids in juvenile are extremely vulnerable, and to add mixed-sex housing into it, that’s creating a totally unnecessary hurdle to have to jump over. It’s setting them up for failure, and it’s just robbing them of any kind of normalcy or ability to focus on healing.” – Amie Ichikawa
This mishmash allows for the flawed housing of transgender males in female facilities—which is the embodiment of a complete disaster in the making. Litigation is slowly unraveling these issues, but clarity on executive orders or amendments to federal codes hasn’t been achieved yet, leaving institutions in disarray.
Urgent Calls for Amendment
The urgency to amend federal codes is palpable, with advocates constantly urging Washington to reverse policies that inadvertently place young girls at risk. Whether intentionally or not, former Obama administration regulations that supposedly intended to prevent rape and violence end up creating unsafe spaces for vulnerable young girls.
Maine’s review of its facilities following a transgender teen’s suicide while on watch underscores an urgent need to rethink how transgender youth are housed. Meanwhile, the ongoing battle to ensure these housing assignments are based on biological sex becomes increasingly critical.
