DoJ moves to eliminate sexual abuse protections for LGBTQ+ people in prisons

US Justice Department abandons protections against LGBTQ+ abuse in prisons. A recent memo directed by principal deputy director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Tammie Gregg has sparked outrage among advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, who say it will lead to increased assaults behind bars and put vulnerable individuals at greater risk.

The directive relates to regulations under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (Prea), which was passed unanimously by Congress in 2003. Prea includes standards aimed at addressing high levels of violence faced by transgender, gender-nonconforming, and queer people in jails and prisons across the US.

Under the new policy, inspectors will no longer be required to audit facilities for compliance with protections shielding LGBTQ+ individuals from harassment, abuse, and rape. The justice department also plans to update its Prea standards to align with one of Donald Trump's signature executive orders aimed at restricting trans rights.

Critics argue that this shift in policy is "reckless and dangerous" and will allow rapists to act with impunity. Linda McFarlane, executive director of Just Detention International, described the move as "sickening." She stated that it will create chaos inside prisons and put both staff and incarcerated individuals at greater risk.

Advocates for trans rights also pointed out that many transgender people are already subjected to abuse while incarcerated, despite existing protections. Kara Janssen, an attorney representing trans women in Bureau of Prisons custody, condemned the memo as allowing officials to "viololate the law" and putting her clients in a "cruel and unusual punishment."

The move has been met with criticism from human rights groups and attorneys representing LGBTQ+ individuals incarcerated in the US. The American Civil Liberties Union's LGBTQ & HIV project senior staff attorney Shana Knizhnik stated that Prea remained the law, but expressed concerns about the signal this sends to officials maintaining safety in custody.

Spokespeople for the White House and Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the matter.

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here. First, they're weakening the protections against LGBTQ+ abuse in prisons, now they're updating the Prea standards to align with one of Trump's executive orders. It's like they're trying to send a message. What's really going on behind the scenes? Is it just a coincidence that this change is happening right when there are more people advocating for trans rights?

I'm not buying it. There has to be some hidden agenda here, and I aim to uncover it. Maybe it's related to the upcoming elections or something else entirely. Whatever the reason, one thing's for sure – this move puts vulnerable individuals at risk, and that's just unacceptable. We need to stay vigilant and keep pushing back against these kinds of policies.

It's also worth noting that many trans people are already subjected to abuse in prisons despite existing protections. So what's changing? Are we really seeing a decrease in harassment and abuse or is this just another way to roll back progress? I'm not convinced, and I think we need more scrutiny on this issue.

this is so not cool at all! it's like they're basically saying 'meh, we don't care about protecting people from abuse'... I mean, Prea was supposed to help reduce assault rates behind bars, but now it seems like they're rolling back the protections . what's next? just gonna let rapists run wild? that can't be right.

I'm getting the feels from this one lol ... like what's going on with these policies? I remember when Prea was first passed back in 2003, it was a huge deal! It was all about protecting those LGBTQ+ folks behind bars. Now it seems like they're just kinda phasing that out ... I'm worried about the vulnerable ones, you know? Those trans women and non-binary people are already at risk of abuse while incarcerated. This new policy just seems like a step backwards .

I'm not sure what's going on with the White House and Bureau of Prisons not commenting on this though ... I mean, isn't transparency supposed to be all about safety? It's like they're just kinda letting things slide . And what about those advocates who are saying it's "reckless and dangerous"? shouldn't we be listening to them?

It's just sad when policies that were meant to protect people end up putting them at greater risk ... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there's some kind of change of heart happening soon .

This is a really bad move! I mean, can you imagine being locked up in a place with zero protection from people who might be your size or just want to cause harm? It's already so hard for trans and queer people to feel safe in the first place, and now it sounds like they're gonna be totally exposed. The thought of inspectors not having to check in on these protections is just worrying - what if someone takes advantage of a loophole? And I'm so disappointed that the White House isn't speaking up about this... shouldn't they be looking out for people who are already super vulnerable?

This is a super depressing development. I mean, it's already so hard being an LGBTQ+ person in prison, now they're basically saying "good luck with that". It's like, we know there's gonna be problems, but can't we at least try to mitigate 'em? The Prea standards were put in place for a reason, and this memo just feels like a step backward. I'm all for progress and compromise, but come on... shouldn't we be trying to make things better, not worse? This could lead to some serious harm, especially for the most vulnerable people. It's just not right.

omg I'm so worried about what's going down in those prisons ! they're already so vulnerable with all the abuse and stuff, can't we just try to keep them safe? like, i get that there's a lot of drama around trans rights but come on, let's not make things worse . I've heard horror stories about what happens in those places and it's just heartbreaking . the gov should be doing so much more to protect people, especially when they're already in such a fragile situation . this new policy is like, super reckless and i don't get why they'd wanna do that . I know we gotta be careful with our language and all but can't they just find a way to make it work?

I'm so worried about these new changes . As someone who follows current events, I think it's really concerning that they're rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in prisons. It's like, we know that being LGBTQ+ can be super vulnerable and scary already, and then you throw in a bunch of guys in a cell with no oversight? It's just not right.

I mean, I get that the Justice Department is trying to align their policies with some old Trump stuff , but come on. This isn't about politics; it's about people's lives. And if we're gonna talk about "safety" in custody, let's make sure we're not putting vulnerable folks at risk of abuse and harassment. It's just common sense.

I feel like this move is just gonna lead to more problems down the line, you know? More reports of assault and harassment, more stress on staff... it's a mess waiting to happen . And what about all the trans people who are already getting hurt in there? This is like, totally unacceptable.

I'm super worried about this new policy change in prisons . If they're not required to audit facilities for compliance with protections shielding LGBTQ+ individuals, that means vulnerable people are gonna be left out there . Like, what's the point of having laws if they're just gonna get ignored? It's reckless and puts both staff and inmates at risk . I don't think anyone is taking this seriously enough - all these human rights groups and attorneys are speaking out, but still nothing's changing . We need concrete action, not just lip service . Where are the sources for this memo? Why isn't there more transparency on this policy change? It's not like we're just gonna sit back and accept that LGBTQ+ people in prisons are at risk . We need to hold our officials accountable

come on this is exactly what i was worried about when they updated those prison rules... now it's like "oh no, we're not enforcing protections" that's just gonna lead to more problems in there... and can you believe the trump exec order part? i mean, seriously... trans people are already being abused behind bars, don't need some memos telling us that it's okay to let that happen... it's just so frustrating

I'm so worried about these trans people who are already going through so much. I don't think it's fair that they have to be put at risk like this because of some outdated laws . The fact that LGBTQ+ abuse in prisons is still a huge issue just shows how far we've got to go in protecting our most vulnerable citizens .

I'm also really concerned about the update to Prea standards. It's like, what even is the point of having laws if they're not going to be enforced? I think it's so reckless and irresponsible of the Justice Department to just drop this protection without considering the consequences .

It's not just about the trans people who are being abused, either. It's about all the staff in prisons who will have to deal with the fallout from these assaults. Can you imagine having to work in an environment where that kind of violence is happening on a daily basis?

I think this move is a huge step backwards for our country. We should be working towards inclusivity and acceptance, not pushing people away because of who they are .

This is so messed up... like, what's the point of even having laws if they're just gonna get rewritten to suit whoever's in power? I mean, Prea was created to protect ppl who are already super vulnerable - trans folks, queer folks, and all that jazz. And now we're basically giving the green light for them to be abused behind bars again? It's like, what even is the justice system supposed to be doing here?

And can we talk about how these policies are always just a bunch of "clarifications" or "updates"? Like, who needs clarification on protecting ppl from rape and abuse? It's not rocket science. This whole thing feels super intentional - like a deliberate attempt to roll back progress and make things harder for marginalized groups.

I'm just so frustrated by this... it feels like we're taking two steps back. And what really gets me is that there are still people out there who think that trans rights are some kind of "issue" or something that needs to be policed. Like, they're literally putting ppl's lives at risk and no one's doing anything about it? It's just... I don't even know what to say.

This new policy is a huge step back for LGBTQ+ rights in prisons. I can only imagine how scary it must be for trans folks already going through so much trauma behind bars, now with less protection. What's next, just leaving them vulnerable to abuse? It's like they're saying, 'hey, we'll protect you... when you're not actually being abused'. That doesn't sound like justice at all.

I'm also wondering what kind of support system would be in place for these individuals now. They need help and resources, not just empty promises of protection that aren't backed up by policy changes. We need to make sure our prisons are safe spaces, not hotspots for abuse and harassment.

It's so frustrating when we see moves like this from the Justice Department. I wish they'd take a step back, reevaluate what we're trying to achieve, and work towards creating safer spaces for everyone, regardless of their identity.