Correctional staff knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward incarcerated trans people: A scoping review of an emerging literature

Abstract

Background: Trans people are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates relative to cisgender people and are at increased risk of negative experiences while incarcerated, including poor mental health, violence, sexual abuse, dismissal of self-identity, including poor access to healthcare. Aims: This scoping review sought to identify what is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of correctional staff toward incarcerated trans people within the adult and juvenile justice systems. Method: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the five-stage iterative process developed by Arksey and O’Malley ( 2005 ), utilizing the PRISMA guidelines and checklist for scoping reviews and included an appraisal of included papers. A range of databases and grey literature was included. Literature was assessed against predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with included studies written in English, online full text availability, and reported data relevant to the research question. Results: Seven studies were included with four using qualitative methodologies, one quantitative, and two studies employing a mixed methods approach. These studies provided insights into the systemic lack of knowledge and experience of correctional staff working with trans people, including staff reporting trans issues are not a carceral concern, and carceral settings not offering trans-affirming training to their staff. Within a reform-based approach these findings could be interpreted as passive ignorance and oversights stressing the importance of organizational policies and leadership needing to set standards for promoting the health and wellbeing of incarcerated trans persons. Conclusions: From a transformational lens, findings from this study highlight the urgent need to address the underlying structural, systemic, and organizational factors that impact upon the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors staff have and hold in correctional, and other health and community settings to meaningfully and sustainably improve health, wellbeing, and gender-affirming treatment and care for trans communities, including make possible alternative methods of accountability for those who do harms.

Social reintegration of cisgender and transgender women post-incarceration in Brazil: policies and challenges

“…Concerning transgender women, the lack of official data makes it challenging to determine the exact number within the Brazilian prison system. The marginalization and criminalization they face in society might result in a higher likelihood of incarceration (Hochdorn et al, 2018 ; Coppola, 2023 ; Daken et al, 2023 ).…”

Where do incarcerated trans women prefer to be housed and why? Adding nuanced understandings to a complex debate through the voices of formerly incarcerated trans women in Australia and the United States

“…Across the globe trans people experience violence, abuse, harassment, and assault in correctional settings (United Nations Development Programme, 2020 ). Although much of this mistreatment occurs at the hands of fellow incarcerated individuals, mistreatment is also perpetrated directly by correctional staff and healthcare providers (Brömdal et al., 2023 ; Clark et al., 2017 ; Daken et al., 2023 ; du Plessis et al., 2023 ; Halliwell et al., 2023 ; Hughto et al., 2022 ; James et al., 2016 ; Murphy et al., 2023 ; Utnage, 2023 ; Van Hout et al., 2020 ; White Hughto et al., 2018 ). Trans women incarcerated in male settings are particularly vulnerable, with many reporting the disclosure of their trans identity significantly increases risk of being raped and/or coerced into sexual activities by other incarcerated people—experiences correctional staff frequently fail to report or prevent (Gorden et al., 2017 ; Hughto et al., 2022 ; Lydon et al., 2015 ; Phillips et al., 2020 ; Rosenberg & Oswin, 2015 ; Sanders, Gildersleeve, et al., 2023 ).…”