Complaints from two transgender women who were housed on the male floor of the Long Beach City Jail have spurred local police to establish a new policy on the proper treatment of transgender people who’ve been taken into custody or who are encountered by officers in the field.
The new policy marks the latest move among law enforcement agencies in Southern California and elsewhere to develop guidelines to protect the rights and safety of the often-vulnerable transgender population in the criminal justice system.
Experts say the changes stem not just from an evolving awareness about the transgender community and the distinct issues they face, but also from the legal needs of police departments and other agencies seeking to safeguard themselves against costly civil liability….