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| Photo credit: The Roman Forum. |
As of March 21, 2011, transgendered inmates will no longer be thrown into the general population in Chicago's Cook County Jail.
Inmates whose sexual identity isn't immediately clear, will be interviewed by a Gender Identity Committee. Biologically male inmates who are determined to be transgendered women, will be housed separately from male inmates, will have access to women's clothing and products, and will no longer be searched by male correction officers.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Project of the ACLU of Illinois believes the new policy will lessen the physical, verbal, and sexual abuse of sexually ambiguous convicts.
Although the LGBT community may be pleased with the Cook County Jail's new policy, some people are less sympathetic to the special needs of certain inmates.
A reader on a popular Chicago news site, who identified his or herself as "Chi-cop", had this to say about the new rules for transgendered prisoners:
| "That’s just great!!! Why not just go coed… showers and all, to go along with all the other great amenities afforded to the the drug dealers, rapist, and urban terrorists. Hey why not just shut down the jail and set them all free. It’s a joke anyway." |
Should special allowances be made for inmates with special needs?
It's kinda out of hand. They can't have it both ways (no pun intended). Really, it's outta hand. This "what will you find today" Marshall's theme throughout Chicago is, well, kinda outta hand.
ReplyDeleteHey Chi-Cop, I think the trans-gendered inmates should get the same treatment as a "Chi-Cop" would get if he was arrested. When cops get arrested for crimes they don't get thrown in with the rest of the inmates. So I think the Transgender Project of the ACLU of Illinois is doing the right thing.
ReplyDeleteWho said jail was supposed to be accommodating? What is this the friggin' Holiday Inn?
ReplyDeleteTransgender people are very confused about who they are and live in hell even if they haven't been thrown in jail. Having said that, do I think they should get special treatment? There are inmates on the psych ward who scam and fake they have a mental issue just so they won't be thrown in the general population. The transgender inmates aren't scamming or faking who they are. If they were put in the general population, they probably wouldn't make it to court. I see nothing wrong with separating them if it will protect them. I am, however, tired of prisoners getting better benefits than some law abiding citizens get. It's just to "comfortable" in jail now days.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's a tough one. On one hand I don't think they deserve special treatment, but on the other hand, I don't think they deserved to be attacked or raped by other inmates.
ReplyDeleteAnd if I ended up sharing a cell with someone, I'd certainly want it to be a less "interesting" male. :)
As a note, "transgendered" is improper usage within the community. Trans individuals prefer to be called "trans" or "transgender", no -ed required.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, we're not talk about special treatment. We're talking about safety. Just because someone is a prisoner does not mean that they have no rights to personal safety. The fact remains that prisons are dangerous places, run by folks who want to keep people in prison because it is such a money-maker. Prisoners have a right to be treated humanely and respectfully, and certainly have every right to safety from harm.
"Prisoners have a right to be treated humanely and respectfully"
ReplyDeleteTheir victims had a right to be treated humanely and respectfully, too. Since CRIMINALS obviously don't give a damn about others why should I give a damn about their comfort levels IN JAIL?!!!
IT'S JAIL! NOT A HOTEL!