I'm conflicted about how to react to this. Sticking strictly to reason and compassion, obviously she's a woman and belongs in a women's prison. Yet it would be a lie to say a part of me doesn't have that visceral, emotional "did she really think she was so special that the leopards wouldn't eat her face even though they've been baying for years about all the faces they want to eat?"

I think it's okay to think she's an awful, horrible, stupid human being, but still believe that she has the right to be treated humanely.

[–] 7heo@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

When push comes to shove, and people get a taste of their own medicine, it is also an opportunity to teach them to change their ways. After all, if I am not mistaken, prisons are not originally meant for punishment, but for isolating dangerous individuals while giving them a chance at becoming a better version of themselves. Of course, I know that modern prisons are absolutely different, and much more likely to antagonise prisoners than lead them to better themselves... So this would require changing the carceral system as a whole.

Also, regarding the men vs women prison, I think there is an even more problematic aspect: Transexuals already have to deal with daily harassment and abuse in their day-to-day life, in our "normal" society. So there is a high chance they would get more of that in any prison, be it for men or for women. I think they should have their own wings, to prevent such risks of abuse.

[–] frog@beehaw.org 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Agreed. I've been thinking about this overnight, and since it seems unlikely that Watkins' right-wing allies will do anything to help her, maybe if people on the left fight for her, it'll give her an opportunity to grow.

Also, yes! There's a solid argument that prisons should only be used for individuals that are too dangerous to be roaming society, and only then until they've been rehabilitated, where possible. I don't think prison sentences for non-violent crime serve any real purpose - even for the "punishment" element of dealing with crime, it would be better for society if non-violent criminals did volunteer work in the community or something similarly constructive/reparative, something that helps forge connections with others rather than cutting them off.

Definitely agreed that trans people should have their own wings. That is the case in some places. In the UK prisons have separate wings for vulnerable inmates, and that's where trans prisoners generally end up. It's part of why all the recent fuss about a trans woman with a history of sexual violence being housed in a women's prison was a bit of an overreaction: she was kept in a segregated wing and never actually had any contact with other prisoners. That said, there are questions about whether she was genuinely trans, because she was a rapist who started transitioning after being convicted - I do believe that when someone with a history of sexual assault transitions in prison, it's a reasonable to ask a lot of questions. But whether she was being honest or not, she was never in a position to actually hurt anyone, and moving her back to a male prison would also require she be segregated from the general population.

[–] 7heo@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Also, yes! There’s a solid argument that prisons should only be used for individuals that are too dangerous to be roaming society, and only then until they’ve been rehabilitated, where possible.

That's what countries of northern Europe (Sweden, Norway) do. It turns out it seems to work.

It’s part of why all the recent fuss about a trans woman with a history of sexual violence being housed in a women’s prison was a bit of an overreaction: she was kept in a segregated wing and never actually had any contact with other prisoners. That said, there are questions about whether she was genuinely trans, because she was a rapist who started transitioning after being convicted - I do believe that when someone with a history of sexual assault transitions in prison, it’s a reasonable to ask a lot of questions.

Yes, no matter what progress we do, there will always be people trying to take advantage of it. With time, a culture will develop around those issues, and the exploits will be mitigated, but for new advances such as trans rights, this is to be expected.

But whether she was being honest or not, she was never in a position to actually hurt anyone, and moving her back to a male prison would also require she be segregated from the general population.

Yes, that is another good point for keeping trans inmate separated.