Transgender woman sues Allegheny County, PA; claims jail assaults

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Transgender woman sues Allegheny County, PA; claims jail assaults while being housed with men

A transgender woman Monday sued Allegheny County and administrators at the jail, alleging that she was repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted during three separate stays there because staff refused to place her with female inmates.
Jules Williams, 37, of Pittsburgh is seeking damages after she said she was housed in male units at the jail in 2015, 2016 and this year, despite having a birth certificate and state identification cards that list her as female.

During one stay in 2015, Ms. Williams sought protective custody to stay away from the male inmates, said her attorney, Alec Wright.
Instead of housing Ms. Williams by herself, jail officials placed her in protective custody with another male inmate. Over four days, Mr. Wright said, she was raped repeatedly, despite repeated cries for help to officers monitoring the unit.

According to Mr. Wright, inmates being processed at the jail are housed based on their sex assigned at birth — not their external genitalia, even if they have already fully transitioned.

Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs said that the jail policy regarding transgender inmates requires that within 72 hours of admission, the inmate appear before a transgender committee made up of jail staff from medical, mental health, classification and administration — including majors and deputy wardens — who interview the inmate and then make a recommendation to the warden.

Ms. Downs would not comment on Ms. Williams' situation or whether that process occurred in her case. She also said she would not address the lawsuit specifically.