Finally! BC Corrections has changed its policy on transgender prsoners to comply with human rights law.
Thanks to the persistent work of Prisoners' Legal Services, the new policy requires:
- placement according to gender, unless there are overriding health or safety concerns that cannot be resolved;
- transgender prisoners to be given the opportunity to choose the gender of officers performing frisk or strip searches;
- transgender prisoners to retain personal items necessary to express their gender and to be provided preferred institutional clothing;
- transgender prisoners to be integrated into the general population, rather than in solitary confinement, unless there are proven overriding health and safety concerns which cannot be resolved;
- transgender prisoners to be given private shower and toilet facilities;
- transgender prisoners to be addressed by their preferred names and gender pronouns verbally and in written documents; and
- training and education for staff on gender identity and expression.
The policy also prohibits double bunking if a trans prisoner is ever housed according to their assigned birth sex.
Prisoners' Legal Services believes the policy may be the best example of any jurisdiction in Canada and the world for the accommodation of trans prisoners.
Thanks to Jen Metcalfe, Executive Director of Prisoners' Legal Services, for all the work, and for this information!
Thanks to the persistent work of Prisoners' Legal Services, the new policy requires:
- placement according to gender, unless there are overriding health or safety concerns that cannot be resolved;
- transgender prisoners to be given the opportunity to choose the gender of officers performing frisk or strip searches;
- transgender prisoners to retain personal items necessary to express their gender and to be provided preferred institutional clothing;
- transgender prisoners to be integrated into the general population, rather than in solitary confinement, unless there are proven overriding health and safety concerns which cannot be resolved;
- transgender prisoners to be given private shower and toilet facilities;
- transgender prisoners to be addressed by their preferred names and gender pronouns verbally and in written documents; and
- training and education for staff on gender identity and expression.
The policy also prohibits double bunking if a trans prisoner is ever housed according to their assigned birth sex.
Prisoners' Legal Services believes the policy may be the best example of any jurisdiction in Canada and the world for the accommodation of trans prisoners.
Thanks to Jen Metcalfe, Executive Director of Prisoners' Legal Services, for all the work, and for this information!
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