New statistics released by the Department of Justice in Britain have indicated that more than 70 per cent of transgender prisoners in British jails are serving sentences for serious offences, including rape, sexual assault, grevious bodily harm, and robbery.
The data, released by the UK government, shows that out of 244 transgender prisoners, at least 181 were serving sentences for violent crimes.
There are up to 144 men who identify as female housed in male jails in Britain, with five currently imprisoned in female jails.
The statistics also show that a further 25 transgender males, women who identify as men, located in female prisons have been convicted of violent crimes and sexual offences – with The Telegraph reporting that a year ago, there were fewer than five such prisoners, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Former prison governor Rhona Hotchkiss told the newspaper that in her experience, the majority of trans women prisoners changed their gender “only when they came into contact with the criminal justice system.”
Ms Hotchkiss, who retired as a Prison Governor in 2019, said the figures showed why men who identify as women should only be housed in male prisons.
“Let me be very clear, trans people are not inherently violent and the vast majority live crime-free lives,” she said.
“It is always an issue to have males who identify as women in women’s prisons. It’s not necessarily always the physical threat that they experience but the re-traumatisation because many women in prison are already traumatised at the hands of men. They are also faced with constant gaslighting when they are forced to call these men ‘she’. The vast majority of men who identify as transgender in prison did not do so before they came into contact with the justice system.”
The latest figures from the Department of Justice have attracted the attention of J.K. Rowling, who shared the news piece from The Telegraph on X:
More than 70 per cent of transgender prisoners are in for sex offences or violent crimes.
"The high levels of violent crimes among male prisoners who identify as women demonstrates why they should not be detained in female prisons" https://t.co/nSM3NliDrE— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 25, 2024
Olympic swimmer and commentator Sharron Davies MBE also responded to the story on X, writing to her followers: “We really must deal in facts to set legislation to protect women & children. Or pay a massive price. More than 70% of transgender prisoners are in for sex offences or violent crimes (compared to 18% of men & men commit 99% of sexual crimes) facts matter.”
We really must deal in facts to set legislation to protect women & children. Or pay a massive price. More than 70% of transgender prisoners are in for sex offences or violent crimes (compared to 18% of men & men commit 99% of sexual crimes) facts matter. https://t.co/Bt7LL7aADc
— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) February 25, 2024
In February 2023, a new transgender prisoner policy came into force in Britain, under new measures which meant transgender inmates with male genitalia would no longer be able to be held in mainstream women’s prisons. The UK Ministry of Justice said at the time that the new approach had been extended to include those who had committed violent crimes.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman told the Telegraph newspaper: “Well over 90 per cent of transgender women in custody are held in the men’s estate. We changed the rules last year so transgender women who’ve been convicted of sexual or violent offences – or who retain male genitalia – cannot be held in a women’s prison unless in truly exceptional circumstances.”
Ireland has no official policy on trans prisoners, however Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last Spring that introducing policies similar to those in Scotland may have to be considered here.
In October, Aontú submitted the Gender Recognition (Amendment) (Prisons) Bill 2023 to the Dáil, with party leader Peadar Tóibín saying the Bill would “end the shocking government practice of putting male born sex offenders in women’s prisons.”
A Dáil debate in November heard that the Aontú Bill “seeks to prevent male-born criminals being placed into women’s prisons,” with Deputy Tóibín telling the House: “Our Bill provides that a gender recognition certificate does not affect whether a person is deemed male or female for the purpose of applying the existing rule as to single-sex accommodation in prisons.”
Nine other TDs have signed the Bill: Deputies Seán Canney, Noel Grealish, Willie O’Dea, Carol Nolan, Mattie McGrath, Michael Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae, Richard O’Donoghue and Michael Collins.
Deputy Tóibín said before Christmas that other Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party representatives have said they support the Bill.