Confusion over inmate Jose Ruiz/Jasmine Martinez's gender could cost taxpayers

[Felix]

9News.com
Jace Larson
http://www.9news.com/news/article/252714/222/Confusion-over-gender-could-cost-taxpayers

Jasmine was housed with women until she was released Oct. 20, 2010. When she was arrested by on March 13, 2011 for not properly registering as a sex offender, she was again classified as a woman in Jefferson County.

Martinez' housing roller coaster continued when she was transferred to the Department of Corrections in November 2011.

Martinez was again housed with men.

Department of Corrections has a special housing unit for hermaphrodites and inmates going through a sex change, but staff decided she didn't belong there.

Sanguinetti says prison medical staff also examined Martinez.

"We have medical protocol in place to do a full evaluation of the person," Sanguinetti said. "My understanding is that you can't make a mistake between a male and female and a true hermaphrodite."

[Felix]

Just for the record, I think this news article is insensitive and disgusting, but it's the only account I've seen of a situation that is also insensitive and disgusting, so it's the best we have.

[Jamie D]

The television report is interesting. But there is a big disconnect at the end,  The primary reporter states,

"... but you can't segregate and lock them [hermaphroditic inmates] up for 23 hours per day, because that's not fair to the inmate, who really hasn't done anything wrong."

The inmate in question is a career criminal with convictions for sexual crimes.  Since housing this person with either the male or female populations can lead to potential and real sexual assaults, the proper course is segregation.

But ultimately, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime."

[tekla]

I agree with Jamie, and housing the person with either sex also is an easy jailhouse lawsuit for their cellie too.