Trans girl housed in male unit has jaw broken at D.C. juvenile detention center
A transgender girl housed in a male unit of a Washington, D.C., juvenile detention center has been hospitalized after sustaining multiple injuries, including a broken jaw, officials said.
The girl, whose age was not disclosed, was one of two residents of the city’s Youth Services Center to be sent to the hospital on July 7 following violent incidents at the facility, Turnesha Fish, interim chief of staff at the city’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), confirmed Tuesday.
The two incidents were isolated, and a full review has been launched, according to officials.
NBC Washington reported that five teens have been charged with violations related to the assault of the trans resident.
Sam Abed, the DYRS director, said the incidents were “unacceptable” and being taken “very seriously” by the agency.
“We appreciate our staff for their quick actions in de-escalating the situations,” he said. “These incidents do not reflect the values or standard of care we aim to uphold.”
Department officials said the residents involved have been separated and reassigned to different housing units.
According to a copy of the department’s LGBTQ policy, which was shared with NBC News, a classification committee decides on housing assignments for all youth residents and takes into consideration information shared during intake and a health care provider’s recommendation “that may indicate a need for a particular housing situation.”
“All classification and housing decisions at DYRS secure facilities shall be based on youths’ individualized needs, prioritizing the youth’s physical and emotional well-being,” the policy reads.
Transgender and intersex youth “shall not automatically be housed” according to their sex assigned at birth, according to the policy.
The policy, which has been in place since 2012, also states that staff should take the resident’s perception of where they will be “most secure” into account. All residents also have the opportunity to request a re-examination of placement “if they feel unsafe in their current housing.”