When the rules for treating transgender inmates aren’t followed

The federal government has guidelines for how imprisoned transgender inmates should be treated. But a recent Philadelphia case shows those rules aren’t always followed.

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An exterior of a prison is shown, with green grass visible in the foreground.

The Riverside Correctional Facility on State Road in Philadelphia. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

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The federal government has guidelines in place for how transgender inmates should be treated in America’s jails and prisons. But a recent Philadelphia case shows those rules aren’t always being followed, specifically at Riverside Correctional Facility, the city’s only female jail. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Pranshu Verma explains why.

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