Trans woman alleges transfer to men's prison is unconstitutional
A transgender woman filed a court petition Tuesday against the state of Washington’s Department of Corrections, alleging that her confinement at a men’s prison is unconstitutional.
A transgender woman filed a court petition Tuesday against the state of Washington’s Department of Corrections, alleging that her confinement at a men’s prison is unconstitutional.
Amber Kim was transferred to the Monroe Correctional Complex in June after being housed at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) since 2021. It is the first time in Washington state history that a transgender woman has been transferred from a women’s prison to a men’s facility, according to the ACLU of Washington, which filed the petition on Kim’s behalf.
Adrien Leavitt, Kim’s attorney, said the decision to transfer Kim constitutes cruel punishment and “violates the Washington Constitution.”
“Her placement at a men’s prison creates an objectively significant risk of serious harm and these conditions are not necessary to accomplish any legitimate penological goal,” the court documents stated.
The Washington Department of Corrections said it could not comment on pending litigation, but said in a statement that the agency strongly emphasizes "the importance of inclusion and representation by recognizing the unique challenges that non-binary and transgender incarcerated people face."
Rating: 5