Italy to Open World’s First Jail for Transgendered Prisoners

[Shana A]

Italy to Open World's First Jail for Transgendered Prisoners
by Kilian Melloy
Monday Feb 15, 2010

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=102325

The facility is due to open in March in the Italian town of Empoli, which is located near Florence, reported Independent Online in a Jan. 28 article. The facility, set to house 30 transgendered inmates, will be situated in an olive tree grove, and will include a rec room, a library, greenhouses, a vineyard, and other amenities. The facility was formerly used to house female prisoners.

"It's a very important initiative," said Aurelio Mancuso, president of Arcigay, an Italian GLBT rights group. "Far from segregating transgender prisoners, it will be possible to better help and take care of them."