New York State settles with trans man after alleged illegal genital examinations in prison
A trans man identified as “John Smith” has reached a settlement with the New York prison system for $275,000 after filing a lawsuit claiming he was subjected to illegal genital examinations by prison staff. Smith alleged that after entering a state-run women’s prison in 2020, he was inspected four times despite attempting to ward off the exams. This experience caused him significant distress and trauma.
Smith’s ordeal began at Rikers Island jail complex in 2019 when he was first subjected to a genital exam, which he refused. Despite his objections, he was placed in a women’s facility, highlighting the lack of clear regulations on the housing of transgender individuals in New York’s prisons. This lack of guidance often leads to situations where incarcerated trans individuals face physical and sexual violence.
Advocates have been pushing for more significant policy changes, with some success at the local level, such as in Broome and Steuben counties. However, a bill introduced by Senator Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Nily Rozic to align housing in jails and prisons with an individual’s gender identity has yet to make it out of committee.
Smith’s experience led to significant trauma and emotional distress, prompting him to file the lawsuit. He hopes that the settlement will not only provide some measure of justice for what he endured but also serve as a warning to prison officials that mistreatment of transgender individuals will not be tolerated in the future. The settlement does not mandate policy changes, but Smith is optimistic that it will deter similar incidents in the future.
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Photo credit nysfocus.com
