|
|
| Former Inmate Undergoing Sex Change Sues State, Feds |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/09/2002 |
|
A Canadian citizen, who was in the process of transforming into a woman when sent to the Montana State Prison for men in 1999, is suing the state and federal governments for alleged mistreatment behind bars. Alexandria Tucker's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court last week, seeks $18 million in damages from Montana and federal officials whom Tucker holds responsible for abuse allegedly suffered while imprisoned with male inmates for 19 months. Tucker also claims abuse at the hands of staff in the Lewis and Clark County jail, where she spent about six months. The defendants displayed a 'deliberate and continued pattern and practice of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, assault, causing bodily injury toward persons thought to be homosexual and/or transsexual,' Tucker's complaint said. 'Defendants mistook plaintiff's gender identity crisis as an invitation to sexually abuse, assault and harm plaintiff.' Diana Leibinger-Koch, chief attorney for the state Corrections Department, said recently the agency takes seriously Tucker's allegations, but she questioned their credibility. 'I think very little of this is true because I know the officers at Montana State Prison and they're very professional,' she said. 'Their conduct does not include things like this.' In the lawsuit, Tucker is referred to as a woman, although it was unclear if Tucker has completed a sex change. At the time of Tucker's arrest in 1998 for stabbing a man, she still had male genitals, but also had augmented breasts and was undergoing hormone treatments. Tucker, who lives in Victoria, British Columbia, claimed complaints about her treatment were met with retaliation by prison staff. She alleged the federal government was at fault for ignoring her written complaints to the U.S. Department of Justice. Tucker also said she was unconstitutionally prosecuted, convicted and jailed on the basis of her sexual orientation. She said she was denied access to an attorney and not allowed to contact the Canadian consulate when arrested. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
I like learning more about prison reforms from this great website that has housed excellent articles on the topic. If I want to learn more about these important topics I know to contact Hamilton Lindley about more of this information because I know that I’ll get a fair answer.