ABOUT US  SUPPORT NCTE GET UPDATES PRESS  |    DONATE 

About Transgender People  Issues  Know Your Rights  Self-Help Guides  Take Action  Blog

Issues | Police, Jails & Prisons Choose Issue

Transgender people are too frequently targeted for violence and

abuse because of their gender identity or presentation. Routinely,
however, that violence and abuse comes from the very authorities
entrusted with their safety. Police frequently harass and pro le
transgender people of color, sowing distrust among the very
communities they have sworn to serve. According to the 2015 US
Transgender Survey, a majority (57%) of transgender people are
afraid to go to the police when they need it.

Transgender people in prison are exposed to horri c rates of

abuse by both sta and their fellow inmates, facing physical and
sexual assault at much higher rates than their counterparts. As the USTS found, transgender people are ten times as
likely to be sexually assaulted by their fellow inmates and ve times as likely to be sexually assaulted by sta .
Transgender prisoners also face numerous other challenges behind bars, including denials of medical care and lengthy
stays in solitary con nement.

Across the country, local advocates and communities are working to hold o cials accountable and foster relationships
meant to ensure the safety and rights of all. NCTE seeks to empower these advocates to e ect change where it is
needed most by providing publications, research, and technical assistance to local advocates. In 2019, NCTE
published Failing To Protect & Serve, an audit of the policies at the 25 largest police departments and a model policy to
help local advocates and law enforcement.

If you are working to improve the standards faced by transgender people in prison or the treatment of transgender
people by your local police department, please contact NCTE at ncte@transequality.org.

Resources

NCTE Resources Partner Resources

Failing to Protect & Serve: An Audit of Policies At Our Nation's Police
Departments 
Standing with Trans Prisoners: Resources to Improve Conditions for
Incarcerated Trans People 
Meaningful Work: Transgender Experiences in the Sex Trade
Executive Summary 
Meaningful Work: Transgender Experiences in the Sex Trade 
LGBT People and the Prison Rape Elimination Act 
Participating in Direct Actions: A Guide for Transgender People 
Emerging Best Practices for the Management and Treatment of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex
Youth in Juvenile Justice Settings 
Department of Justice Training Video for Law Enforcement on
Interacting with the Transgender Community 
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in the Juvenile Justice
System 
It’s War In Here: A Report on the Treatment of Transgender and
Intersex People in NYS Men’s Prisons, SRLP 
Transgender Prisoner Resource List, Massachusetts Trans Political
Coalition 

Introductory Training for Police, DC Trans Coalition 

Know Your Rights: Laws, Court Decisions, and Advocacy Tips to

Protect Transgender Prisoners, ACLU and NCLR 

The Unfair Criminalization of Gay and Transgender Youth, Center for

American Progress 

A Roadmap for Change: Federal Policy Recommendations for

Addressing the Criminalization of LGBT People and People Living
with HIV 

From the Blog

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 JANUARY 29, 2021

Congress Begins Work to Protect Transgender NCTE Backs Bill To End ‘Panic’ Defense in Virginia
People by Introducing the Equality Act NCTE today announced its support for criminal justice reform
legislation in Virginia that would ban the so-called “panic” defense
from being used to argue for lienancy in cases of hate crimes and
v

READ MORE

Share via:   

The US House of Representatives is introducing the bipartisan NOVEMBER 8, 2020

Equality Act, which would expand civil rights laws to include
speci c, national protections against discrimination based on Priorities for the Biden Presidential
gender ide Administration
Joe Biden is the president our country needs.
READ MORE

READ MORE
Share via:   
Share via:   

Load more

Join Our Mailing List SIGN UP

About Transgender People Know Your Rights DONATE |   

Issues ID Document Center

Aging
About Us
Anti-Violence
History
Employment
Jobs, Fellowships & Internships
Families
Ways to Give
Health & HIV (202) 642-4542
Annual Reports
Housing & Homelessness ncte@transequality.org
Contact Us
Identity Documents & Privacy
1032 15th St NW
Immigration Blog Suite 199
International Washington D.C. 20005
Press Room
Military & Veterans
Tips for Journalists © 2024 National Center for Transgender
National Transgender Discrimination Survey Equality
Releases
Non-Discrimination Laws
Privacy and Return Policy
Police, Jails & Prisons Join Our Mailing List
Racial & Economic Justice Terms of Use
Research & Data Needs
Travel
Voting Rights
Youth & Students