Free Transgender Teen Held in Connecticut Prison Without Charge

  • by: Kevin Mathews
  • recipient: Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy

For over a month, "Jane Doe", a transgender 16-year-old, has remained in a Connecticut prison for adults. Local officials say it's because she's too dangerous to be housed in a juvenile facility after attacking a staff member -- but due to the extreme trauma Doe has experienced in her short life, it's clear she needs help, not punishment. Given that Doe has been charged with no crimes, there is no reason to keep her locked up, let alone in solitary confinement. 

This injustice appears to be due to the state's confusion on how to handle housing a troubled trans minor. Doe has experienced more trauma than most of us can imagine -- at just 5 years old she was taken from her family after experiencing years of torture and sexual violence. Once she was placed in foster care, she was victimized again, sexually assaulted by other children and even staff members working for the Department of Children and Families. It's no wonder that a teenager who's experienced so much pain would react by lashing out.

Doe admits she needs assistance in getting her life back in order. We need to provide this young woman with the help she needs: incarcerating her and pretending she's not there is not the solution.

Governor Malloy, please pardon Jane, and create a policy for accommodating transgender youth in the foster care system!

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