Project on Addressing Prison Rape

Washington

  1. State Policy: State of Washington Department of Corrections, Policy Number DOC 490.820. (Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Risk Assessments and Assignments)
  2. Language:
    1. Housing and Programming will be reviewed, initially and prior to any transfer, by a local review committee for all offenders who identify as transgender.
    2.  Review committees will reassess placement and programming assignment every 6 months to review any threats to the offender's safety.
    3. Facilities will develop local procedures to allow transgender offenders the opportunity to shower and dress/undress separately from other offenders. 

Local

King County (Seattle, WA)

  1. Policy: Seattle Police Department Manual 16.200 - Interaction with Transgender Individuals
  2. Language:
    1. Officers will transport and house Transgender Individuals Alone, Whenever Possible   If necessary, officers will call additional officers to the scene to assist with transporting transgender individuals. Officers will house transgender suspects/prisoners in SPD holding cells alone. If there are no individual holding cells available, a supervisor will make arrangements for the transgender suspect/prisoner to have a cell, be transported, or released.
    2. When Transferring Custody of Transgender Individuals, Officers will Relay Information When officers transport a transgender individual to the King County Jail or otherwise transfer custody to another law enforcement agency, the officers will verbally advise the receiving agency/officer that the individual is transgender. The officer will relay any other relevant identification related information, including how the individual would like to be addressed.

“No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones.”

Nelson Mandela
American University Washington College of Law, Project Addressing Prison Rape