U.S. Federal Prisons Halt LGBTQ-Specific Safety Inspections

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed its prison inspectors to stop using specific standards that evaluate safety for LGBTQ inmates. This change removes a key measure designed to protect these prisoners from sexual assault. A memo obtained by NPR directs the DOJ’s inspection office to no longer assess facilities with standards created for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. These standards were part of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), a law aimed at preventing sexual violence in detention. The DOJ has not publicly explained its reasoning for the change. The removed standards specifically guided inspectors on issues like housing placements and privacy for transgender prisoners. Prison reform advocates warn this move could reduce safety for a vulnerable population. LGBTQ inmates face a much higher risk of sexual victimization behind bars compared to the general prison population.