A settlement was finally made for the lawsuit by Disability Rights Washington concerning about gender-affirming care for trans people inside the prison.
Disability Rights Washington’s Lawsuit
A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit by the Disability Rights Washington concerning the treatment of transgender people in Washington state prisons. The advocacy group Disability Rights Washington brought the suit against the Department of Corrections.
The Disability Rights Washington have stated that there is a mistreatment of incarcerated transgender individuals with disabilities. The settlement for the Disability Rights Washington’s lawsuit is described as one of the most comprehensive in the country.
Disability Rights Washington’s lawsuit requires the appointment of gender-affirming medical and mental health specialists in prisons. The lawsuit by the Disability Rights Washington also links prison medical care to community Medicaid standards.
According to a published article by KUOW, the state will pay $1.5 million in legal costs and $300,000 annually for compliance of the lawsuit by Disability Rights Washington. The consent decree will be monitored to ensure compliance for Disability Rights Washington’s lawsuit.
Denied Gender-Affirming Care
In a published article by The Seattle Times, investigations found instances where gender-affirming care was denied, hormone therapy was interrupted, and strip searches were conducted by guards of the opposite gender.
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