Transsexual killer: Keeping me in men's prison violates my human rights

[Shana A]

Transsexual killer: Keeping me in men's prison violates my human rights

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:51 PM on 24th July 2009

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201947/Transsexual-killer-Keeping-mens-prison-violates-human-rights.html

A transsexual jailed for strangling her boyfriend has gone to the High Court claiming that keeping her in a men's prison violates her human rights under European law.

The prisoner, in her 20s and serving a life sentence for manslaughter and attempted rape, is legally female and her birth certificate has been amended accordingly, London's High Court heard.

Born male, she has had hair on her face and legs permanently removed by laser and has developed breasts after hormone treatment.

[lisagurl]

Obviously needs a padded cell. This person has mental problems and should be in the psychiatric ward.

[NicholeW.]

Sorry, just really difficult to work up a lot of moral outrage for someone who frequently murders people.

[Buffy]

Sorry, just really difficult to work up a lot of moral outrage for someone who frequently murders people.

Absolutely!

But the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) in Strassbourg will probaly agree with her, award her copious amounts of compensation and she will soon be in her own private cell with flat screen TV, Playstation and allowed out at weekends.

Lock her up and throw away the key...

[tekla]

Not exactly the poster child for the movement.

[Buffy]

Not exactly the poster child for the movement.

Only for the Finnish branch of Susan's one feels!

[NicholeW.]

Only for the Finnish branch of Susan's one feels!

I know, I shouldn't! ... But! 



I imagine that's just too true, Buffy!

[Sandy]

I know, I shouldn't! ... But! 



I imagine that's just too true, Buffy!

I second that!


-Sandy(I am so going to hell!)

[tekla]

If they put her on death row it wouldn't matter, all Death Row prisoners are held in isolation.

[SarahFaceDoom]

I don't know the circumstances of her imprisonment, but it should be pretty obvious she shouldn't be in with men.  Why should she get more punishment than any other murderer just because she's a transsexual?

[Sandy]

I don't know the circumstances of her imprisonment, but it should be pretty obvious she shouldn't be in with men.  Why should she get more punishment than any other murderer just because she's a transsexual?

As Nichole said, I'm having a real hard time working up any sympathy for a murderer.  That's one of the reasons I'm not a defense attorney.

It may be a human rights issue, and perhaps someone else, other than I, can protest in indignation.  But if anyone comes to me looking for a contribution to their defense fund, I'll donate to the Happy Valley Owl Sanctuary in Pascagoula Mississippi before I would that.

-Sandy

[tekla]

Just exactly how well do think the women are going to treat someone who is in for rape?

[tekla]

Gain acceptance?  I don't know about prisons in England, but I do know a bit about the people who go to prison here, and they are not 'nice' girls.  And even if the person could hold their own one on one, prison is not like that and its hard to take on five, ten, twelve people.  Though I imagine this murder/rapist would get raped a lot in a mens prison, I can pretty much guarantee you that the women are going to rape them with every object they can find, in every place they can stick it.  Every day.  Every night.

[Calistine]

Well she should be in a womans prison if she murdered men. But why should she have any rights as a murderer anyway?

[Julie Marie]

If she wanted rights she shouldn't have taken away other's rights. Still it bothers me to see the article continually refer to her in the masculine.

Julie

[Sandy]

Still it bothers me to see the article continually refer to her in the masculine.
Julie

That I will agree with.

[finewine]

I'm mildly surprised that a lack of sympathy is getting in the way of a more fundamental concern.

The decision to house this person in a male prison wasn't based on the severity of the crime  - it'd probably be the same if they were convicted for a short custodial sentence for a much lesser crime.  The underlying policy should be the issue here, yet it seems to be muted by our collective distaste for this individual and their offences.

[tekla]

I don't see where she would be any safer in a woman's prison, moreover, I don't see where the women in prison would be safer with her there given her crimes.

[finewine]

No she wouldn't be any safer in a women's prison - far from it (I didn't mean to imply otherwise, sorry).  In fact, I think that's the real quandry here...what actually *is* reasonable to do for any transgendered convict, rather than just this one?

[tekla]

California had toyed with the idea of housing them in a separate wing, but I think that went out the window with the budget problems.  Hell, put her in a woman's prison, in general pop I think the problem would solve itself.