Bill Overview
Title: Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a framework to prohibit correctional institutions at the federal and state levels from using gender identity to house inmates of one biological sex with inmates of the other biological sex.
Sponsors: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Target Audience
Population: Female inmates in correctional institutions
Estimated Size: 152000
- The bill specifically targets correctional institutions, impacting their policies and inmate housing procedures.
- It focuses on biological female inmates who may currently be housed with transgender women (biological males identifying as female).
- The bill affects the conditions under which female inmates are housed, potentially impacting their safety and wellbeing.
- Given that the bill affects both federal and state correctional institutions, it has a wide-ranging impact across various jurisdictions.
Reasoning
- The policy mainly impacts female inmates in correctional institutions by potentially enhancing their safety and wellbeing, as housing assignments would not be based on gender identity but on biological sex. This could reduce the risk of violence or assaults which might be heightened due to current housing policies allowing for gender identity-based arrangements.
- The budget constraints in the policy imply that interventions need to be cost-effective and cover a broad scope across federal and state institutions without overspending. Therefore, the impact of the policy should be examined over time to ensure it aligns with financial limitations while promoting inmate wellbeing.
- The policy may also indirectly impact correctional staff, who will need to adapt to and enforce new procedures as well as educate both themselves and inmates on the changes. Staff wellbeing and institutional culture could be influenced by these adjustments.
- Considering there are about 152,000 female inmates in the United States, the policy collection focuses on thorough implementation across diverse types of correctional facilities, ranging in size and geographical location. The analysis should capture a wide range of personal experiences regarding safety concerns and wellbeing among this key group.
Simulated Interviews
Inmate (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel uncomfortable sharing space with trans women who are physically stronger.
- Safety is a concern, but I also worry about offending others by expressing my discomfort.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Correctional Officer (New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy would likely reduce incidents I've had to manage.
- It might make my job easier in terms of inmate management and safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Inmate (Texas)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've feared for my safety multiple times.
- A policy change could help me live with less anxiety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Inmate (Florida)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's intimidating sharing spaces with anyone much larger or stronger than me.
- I hope the policy can support rehabilitation by creating a safer environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Inmate (Illinois)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Every day is about trying to avoid trouble.
- This law might reduce daily stress and physical fear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Social Worker (Georgia)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Female inmates deserve to feel secure just like anyone else.
- This act aligns with measures necessary for broader reform.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Inmate (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had breakdowns from not feeling safe.
- The new policy could help my mental well-being significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Inmate (Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes in housing policy could reduce conflicts.
- A calmer environment might make serving time less punishing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Prison Psychologist (Massachusetts)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing potential for violence significantly impacts mental health.
- Enforcement will be key to ensuring positive outcomes from this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Criminal Justice Advocate (Pennsylvania)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step towards humane treatment of female inmates.
- Will watch closely to ensure it's implemented fairly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $74000000)
Year 3: $54100000 (Low: $32000000, High: $78000000)
Year 5: $56300000 (Low: $33000000, High: $82000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- How correctional facilities will handle transgender inmates post-policy change and any potential legal challenges.
- Potential need for additional legal guidance to handle implementation concerns, especially in states with different existing policies.
- Impact on the safety and welfare of inmates, potentially reducing incidences of violence.