Jail To House Transgender Inmates Based On Identity
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The San Francisco jail is taking steps to house female transgender inmates based on their gender identity.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Friday that Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi says that beginning next month, inmates and staff members will be educated and trained to make for a smooth transition for transgender inmates to participate with other women in drug and alcohol abuse education programs and women's empowerment groups.
The Sheriff's Department currently houses transgender inmates in their own unit for their protection.
He described the move as a first step toward fully integrating all transgender inmates into the general jail population.
Mirkarimi said because few transgender men are generally in the jails, the Sheriff's Department prioritized integration protocols for transgender women.
Union president Eugene Cerbone said deputies have concerns about the new procedures, the newspaper reported.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.