Transgender Woman Allegedly Raped by Prison Officers in New Zealand Prison

Prison activist group, No Pride in Prisons, has been in contact with an incarcerated trans woman who alleges that she has been raped on two occasions by Corrections Officers at Whanganui Men’s Prison.

The woman alleges that she was raped by two Corrections Officers shortly after her transfer from another facility. She says she tried to report the incident to prison staff, who allegedly chose not to act on the complaint.

“Last week, she told us that she was raped by a third Corrections Officer in a gymnasium stairwell. We immediately filed a formal complaint with prison management on her behalf,” says No Pride in Prisons spokeswoman Emilie Rākete.

“Prison management told us that staff are sceptical of this complaint because of previous allegations that this woman has made against Corrections Officers. However, by the prison management’s own admission, at no point did they investigate those prior complaints.”

According to No Pride in Prisons, the woman in question has become extremely fearful for her safety. “She has told us how these Officers are still in a position of power over her. She’s vulnerable and scared they could attack her again,” says Rākete.

“Fear of reprisal has stopped her from speaking out in the past. She tells us that she has also been discouraged from reporting incidences of staff-on-inmate violence. Apparently, Prison Officers have told her not to file official complaints against staff.”

“The prison didn’t even bother to investigate the first time she told them she was raped by staff. Instead, it was allowed to happen again. She is worried that nothing will come out of her reporting this most recent incident.”

“Rape is a systemic issue in New Zealand prisons. If they had taken her seriously the first time, this might not have happened again.”

“This case is yet another demonstration that the Department of Corrections has no regard for the health and well-being of incarcerated people. In fact, it actively puts incarcerated people at risk.”

No Pride in Prisons says that, according a 2007 study in the US, trans women in men’s prisons are 13 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than the men they are imprisoned with.[1]

“A 2015 survey of incarcerated LGBTQ people found that 12% of respondents had been raped by staff.[2] The rape of prisoners by their jailers is an all-too-common event.”

“Trans women incarcerated in men’s prisons are, from the outset, put at considerable risk of assault and rape. It is supposedly the job of Corrections Officers to prevent this kind of violence, not to enact it.”

“No Pride in Prisons is demanding that a full and thorough investigation into both instances of alleged sexual assault take place by an independent authority.”

“In the interim, the officers in question must be immediately suspended so as to prevent any potential backlash against the woman.”

No Pride in Prisons says it will take further action to ensure the safety of this woman, if the Department of Corrections fails to do so.

ENDS

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