My son has been in prison since Jan 5. 04. He is a transgender male. His treatment has not been so good. Upon leaving county to go to his institution instead of them having me pick up his things like they were supposed to, they sent them and a pic of him in his makeup on to the prison. They wanted to make sure that everyone there knew what he was. I am so scared for him. He has a court appointed lawyer who isn't worth crap. He is 24 years old so that makes it really hard for me to do things for him, but as you all know, once you're in, you are pretty much helpless. I need to know......what can we do to keep him out of general population? He is in for drug possession and was sentenced to 11 months. Are we stuck with this lawyer? Can he request someone else? He is a non violent offender. He isn't very big and I know he is terrified. I am open to any advice at all. I know that if he is moved it will be in a low security facility. We have filed for the judicial release, but how long does that take? I can't get his lawyer to call me to answer any of my questions. What happens when they violate your civil rights? This is all new to me and I just don't know where to turn.
Thank you for any help.

a desperate mom

Hi Jtaylor

Welcome to the PTO family, and welcome to the GLBT forum. :)

I'm really sorry for what happened to your son, and I'm really disgusted by the fact they made it clear for everybody that your son is a transgendered.

I don't really have the answers to your questions. I checked your profile and noticed you're in Ohio. Is it the place your son is in too ?? If yes, you may want to check the Ohio forum and even post there. All the regional forums are towards the bottom of the PTO homepage.

If your son is being threatened, he may ask to be put in "protective custody", this way he will be kept apart from the other inmates.

Once again, I'm sorry for your pain, but please know that we are all here for you and your son.

All my best wishes and stay strong.
Philippe

Thank you so much for your kind words. The CO's were pretty hard on him when he first got there. He is in CRC right now awaiting whatever comes next. He will be in a low security prison and that is why i am so worried. He had asked to be put by himself where he is but they refused. For the present he is in a cell alone as his cell mate was moved. It is just hard to tell how long that will last. You can't pick your room mates and what he gets may not be nice. Luckily he is only out of his cell for 2 hours a day and it is sad that he dreads those 2 hours.....I will check into the forum you suggested. Thanks again for your caring kind words....

He will be in a low security prison and that is why i am so worried.

Jtaylor

Why are you so worried he will be in a low security prison ??? It doesn't mean that there is a "low security", it means that the inmates being held in such prisons are "low level", so you should consider it's better for your son to be in such a prison. :)

Phil

He had asked to be put by himself where he is but they refused.


Well, I guess CRC is a reception center, so maybe things work differently while he's there. But he has every right to ask for protective custody if he feels his own security is endangered in open population.

My boyfriend is in Florida, so I'm not very aware of what's going on in Ohio. But I'm almost 100 % sure that protective custody exists in all prisons all over the US.

Phil

The realson I was worried about the low security prison is because that means they may not be in cells. They are in an open situation at all times. I had a girlfriend in that situation and she was terrified of some of the women in with her. She was harrassed and had things stolen all the time. I am a mom, it is hard not to worry. I will tell him about the protective custody, I will see him on Wednesday. What do we do if they refuse?

Jtaylor

my boyfriend is in a max security prison, alone in a cell, can go out for rec about 6 hours a week, and believe me, nasty things happen there too. I don't want to worry you more than needed, but I don't want to sugar coat it either.

In a low security facility, the inmates are usually first timers who are there for "small offences", and most of them want to do their time and get out without being caught in fights or all this kind of stuff. So it's still better for your son to be in a low security facility.

Concerning protective custody, I don't think they will refuse it if there's a real threat for his security. Your son will have a counselor, and will have to ask him about PC. You could as well call and speak with his counselor if needed.

Hope that helps.
Phil

Jtaylor,

I am so sorry to hear what has been done to your son.

I will pm the address and phone no. for the National Center of Lesbian Rights. They have a website as well. They recently started a project for Transgendered Inmates. Also, there is an atty in my home town of San Francisco who is highly active in transgendered law. I will try to find her name, address, and phone no. for you.

Our church here in Virginia has a good number of transgendered individuals in the congregation and we have several friends at various points in the transition. My concern is how far down the road in treatment required by the Harry Benjamin Society is your son? You don't have to answer if you don't want too. But, it may make a difference in how to handle the situation. If you like, please feel free to pm me.

Meanwhile, I will find the attorneys name back home. She may not be able to help, but she may know someone who can.

Patti

I just want to drop in and say hello to you and tell you that I am here to help where I can!

Patti and Phil have things well under control and I am sure that we can provide lots of resources for you.

Please use the Private Message system to Patti (or any of us) if you don't feel comfortable talking openly on the site.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your son!

WELCOME TO PTO!! Phil is right he can request to be in protective custody. It wouldn't be much fun for him, but at least he wouldn't be terrified. I'm so sorry to hear they did this to him. My god what an awful thing to do to somone. I know the fear in your heart is REAL and probably quite overwhelming, but Phil is right again. In the lower level prisons it means that the inmates are not a danger. They are mellower and less apt to do harm to someone. These are mostly people waiting to get out or enjoy there privalages too much to cause a problem. I hope someone comes your way and can give you the answers you need here!! Good Luck!!

((((HUGS))))

Most state agencies have dealt with this situation on at least one occasion, although many do not have formal policies governing the issues. During 1990, we had a pre-op who had undergone everything but the surgery that we had to house in a transient status while the agency determined the most appropriate housing location. TDCJ also had housed some post-operative inmates in gender-appropriate facilities.

The pre-op was ultimately placed in what was then known as a safekeeping custody, which was similar in nature to general population but housed mostly those inmates who would be at risk in the general population. While most were identified as homosexual, there were some who were simply slight of build. At that time (and even now), very few inmates identify as trans-anything.

While the issue of personal property sounds as though there may have been a deviation from policy, the inclusion of a photograph is actually very sound from a security standpoint. While your loved one may not be an escape risk, it is not unreasonable for an agency to have on file a picture that presents a possible alternate appearance for distribution if an escape did take place.

Over the past few years, there have been some court decisions that addressed issues of security and medical care, and I would imagine that some of the other resources mentioned elsewhere in this thread can provide you with the specific cites. There is also an attorney in the Houston area that has dealt a great deal with gender-related law in the past two decades (Phyllis Randolph Frye), and Phyllis may be able to provide you with some additional insights.

Any time i have gone to county jail, my mother has called the jail and more or less threatened them with saying things like, "I swear to Gawd, if there is one hair out of place on my precious boys head when our family attorney has him released, I will hold you personally responsible...what's your name and badge number, please?" Then once they give their name and number she has said,"Now please put your commanding officer or supervisor on the line." and proceeds to say the same thing to them. Next thing you know...shes talking to someone official, who, by the way, wouldn't want to piss a boys mother off! Before I knew it, I was in isolated-protective custody. My own cell, showered alone, and dayroom and telephone priveleges alone...with a gaurded escort to and from my cell...It's worth a try. Talk down to them....after all us tax payers give them there paychecks!!!Right!?!?

Well I am happy to report that my son received his judicial release and is now back home with me. He is doing very well and his little brother is so happy to have him home.
He must attend counseling and group therapy now. I am going to work very hard to help him get his life straight. I am so thankful for all of you here. You helped me through a very tough time. I have a whole new outlook on prison and what goes on there. My heart goes out to all of you and I hope that you will always feel free to contact me if you ever need an ear to listen. Thanks again to every one!

I am so happy that your son is home and safe! This post put a smile on my face this morning.

That great news just made my day!...Now please go get your son...I want to type something to him, okay???...

Listen...I can only imagine how difficult things may seem to get for you in dealing with your transgender-izum....but if it makes any differance hearing this from me, a complete stranger, or from your mother; You are a very special and loved individual who has a very important reason for being on this Earth! I know this, because God doen't make "mistakes"! Turning to dope to "help" you deal with life is never going to work! Stand up and be proud of who you are without dope, and pay your mom the respect of never having to worry about you again. You are VERY LUCKY to have the mom that you do. Now give her a hug & a kiss, and tell her how much you Love her everyday. And if you ever need to talk to someone about anything...and I mean, ANYTHING...you are welcome to post here or contact me at my E-mail address...(Member can be contacted via Private Message. E-mail address edited per PTO Policies and Rules.)

I am sorry that this foolish crap is going on. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly rather they are staight, gay, bi, green, orange or purple. A good thing is that even though he has an 11 month bid, that is considered short term for many. I don't know if i can agree with having himself signed into protective custoday though. I thought that was like being in the box or something. I can be wrong.

But i hope that these 11 months pass by fast enough and that the idiots in jail will leave him alone.

From experience I know they are allowed to fire at least one of their court appointed attorney's. they are allowed to request a third attorney. Don't know what state you're in dear Mom but I would just encourage your son to make his way...he's definitely not alone... My daughter is gay and I love her to pieces and also her partner. The world is changing, so I can only ask you to hang in there

You may all have to suffer some tough times but in the end as long as you stick by your child you'll be fine. What matters most is that your child truly believes in your love. The rest is a piece of cake....


My son has been in prison since Jan 5. 04. He is a transgender male. His treatment has not been so good. Upon leaving county to go to his institution instead of them having me pick up his things like they were supposed to, they sent them and a pic of him in his makeup on to the prison. They wanted to make sure that everyone there knew what he was. I am so scared for him. He has a court appointed lawyer who isn't worth crap. He is 24 years old so that makes it really hard for me to do things for him, but as you all know, once you're in, you are pretty much helpless. I need to know......what can we do to keep him out of general population? He is in for drug possession and was sentenced to 11 months. Are we stuck with this lawyer? Can he request someone else? He is a non violent offender. He isn't very big and I know he is terrified. I am open to any advice at all. I know that if he is moved it will be in a low security facility. We have filed for the judicial release, but how long does that take? I can't get his lawyer to call me to answer any of my questions. What happens when they violate your civil rights? This is all new to me and I just don't know where to turn.
Thank you for any help.

a desperate mom

Well I have to agree with you - being in protective custody is just sheltering him. This might be a good time for him to come to terms with his lifestyle.
The world has changed...Lets just let the everyone express themselves...God willing they'll all turn out more normal than we did. We just kept our mouths shut and worried about everything........


I am sorry that this foolish crap is going on. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly rather they are staight, gay, bi, green, orange or purple. A good thing is that even though he has an 11 month bid, that is considered short term for many. I don't know if i can agree with having himself signed into protective custoday though. I thought that was like being in the box or something. I can be wrong.

But i hope that these 11 months pass by fast enough and that the idiots in jail will leave him alone.

My experience in this was when my boyfriend was in a low security facility and one of the inmates was openly gay and quite "fem". (Is that an acceptable term?) Anyway, apparently he was quite safe from harrassment from the other inmates for reasons mentioned earlier- when you're in a low security facility, life is better and no one wants to risk being moved to a higher security prison just for the sake of bothering a gay, SO, or other potential target individual. They also tend to be non-violent offenders anyway. It turned out this guy only turned out to be a problem for the guards- he kept filing sexual harrassment lawsiuts against him! Anyway, glad your son is home safe - not that there are no idiots on the street that would bother him!!