Women inmates demand removal of trans prisoner guilty of attacking females while a man

Females at Victoria’s biggest women’s prison are concerned that an inmate with a “working” penis who committed serious sex offences against females could soon live among them.

Women at the Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre say a transgender offender should not be there. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Fearful prisoners at Victoria’s biggest women’s jail have launched a petition demanding the removal of a transgender inmate who committed serious sex offences against females while a man.

Women at the Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre in Deer Park say the transgender offender, who was moved to the Murray protection unit on July 5, should not be there.

The women’s plea says they have no concern about transgender individuals, but are concerned the inmate has a “working” penis and a history of violent sexual assault against a woman and a girl.

The Dame Phyllis petition says many prisoners have been the victims of sexual assault or had supported victims.

“Consequently, they carry significant trauma associated with this experience,” it said.

“Therefore, upon hearing this news … the mental wellbeing of many of the women was severely compromised.

“They became visibly upset as they were triggered and traumatised.”

Those in Murray unit were allegedly told the inmate would initially be locked down 23 hours a day, but the ­ultimate aim was for “a full ­living, working and socialisation integration”.

They have approached the Minister for Corrections, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Corrections Victoria and the ­Ombudsman over the matter.

“We feel threatened, unsafe, distressed and traumatised with this current situation. ­Accordingly, we demand that (the inmate) be immediately removed from the Murray unit,” the petition says.

Female inmates says they have no concerns about transgender individuals but are concerned that the inmate has a ‘working’ penis and a history of violent sexual assault.

The transgender inmate last year pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in a Richmond street, while still a man.

During court proceedings over that matter, it emerged the prisoner had also spent time in a European jail for a child-sex offence.

There has for some years been debate overseas about transgender inmates being placed in women’s prisons.

British media reported two years ago that transgender prisoners born as males had carried out seven sex attacks on women in jail.

One of them, Karen White, who was born a man, was sent to New Hall Prison for rape. White later sexually assaulted two female inmates.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said: “All prisoner placement decisions are made with the best interests of each individual prisoner in mind, while balancing the ­safety and security needs of the prison system as a whole.

“Corrections Victoria does not comment on individual prisoners or their placements.”

It has a Trans, Gender ­Diverse and Intersex Prisoner Reference Group set up to monitor issues and consider improvements in the system related to the management of trans, gender diverse and intersex prisoners in custody.